Our MPs get back to work

A DEAL to end Australia's leadership deadlock could be weeks away but one thing is for certain, the region's two new Federal MP's will have their work cut out for them.

The Labor party has maintained its grip in the seat of Blair with sitting MP Shayne Neumann winning despite a swing to the LNP.

There was an 8.9 per cent swing against Labor in the primary vote, but after the allocation of preferences Mr Neumann secured 54.3 per cent support.

Mr Neumann said that it was a tiring campaign in which he worked hard running mobile offices, phone canvassing and direct mailing households.

“In addition to this, more than 8500 households were sent a letter informing them of the Federal Labor Government's plans to fix the Blacksoil interchange,” Mr Neumann said.

Mr Neumann said he will continue to work hard for the Blair community.

“My priorities for the second term include delivering the Ipswich Motorway upgrade, the Blacksoil interchange proposed flyover and securing vital community infrastructure such as in schools and health services.”

Defeated LNP candidate for Blair Neil Zabel said he had mixed emotions about the result.

“I'm disappointed I didn't win but overall we had a good result. We took 2.7 per cent off the Shayne Neumann,” Mr Zabel said.

In the new federal seat of Wright, Scott Buchholz, former chief-of-staff for Queensland senator Barnaby Joyce, has secured his spot as the regions representative.

Chosen to replace high-profile disendorsed LNP candidate Hajnal Ban, Mr Buchholz enjoyed a 5.98 per cent swing in his party's favour.

Mr Buchholz secured close to 60 per cent of the vote on a two-party preferred basis, ahead of Labor's Andrew Ramsay on 40 per cent.

“I am humbled by such an overwhelming swell of support,” Mr Buchholz said.

“I constructed my campaign on being positive and a candidate who listens.”

The new seat or Wright extends from Mudgeeraba on the western Gold Coast through remnant rural areas between Logan City and the New South Wales border and around to include the Lockyer Valley.

Mr Buchholz said he was not fazed by the size of his new electorate.

“I am used to travel and have excellent communications skills, which have served me well in business and will serve me well in the seat of Wright,” he said.

Scott Buchholz – (LNP)

Barnaby Joyce's chief of staff and right-hand man has moved to Beaudesert since becoming a candidate for the seat of Wright. Mr Buchholz has been married for more than 20 years and has a 14-year-old daughter.

Shayne Neumann – (Labor)

Neumann, 48, was born and bred in Ipswich and started out working for Dinmore meatworks. He then went on to study law at the University of Queensland (UQ), as well as completing an Arts degree majoring in government and economics. He served on the local West Moreton District Health Council. Neumann was a board member of Queensland Baptist Care that oversees aged care homes and facilities in Ipswich and Laidley. Prior to winning Blair, Neumann was a partner in a local law firm and had previously been the Labor candidate in this seat during the 2004 election.