qld liberals may draw new leader from a hat

The Queensland Liberal leadership battle has taken another bizarre turn, with one MP suggesting it may have to be settled with a 'lucky dip'.

The party's eight MPs talked for 12 hours yesterday and held a series of secret ballots, but the numbers remain deadlocked.

Gold Coast MP Ray Stevens says leadership contender Tim Nicholls should withdraw his challenge and get behind Mark McArdle.

Mr Stevens says if the matter is not resolved that way, he says his legal advice suggests the only option left will be to draw names out of a hat.

"That is unacceptable to the people of Queensland [and] it's unacceptable to me," he said.

"If Mr Nicholls were to win that particular toss of the coin or ballot or whatever he would be forever known as toss-up Tim."

Dave R.