The Honourable
Shayne Neumann
MP
Neumann in 2018
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Blair
Assumed office
24 November 2007
Preceded byCameron Thompson
Personal details
Born (1961-08-26) 26 August 1961
Ipswich, Queensland, Australia[1]
Political partyAustralian Labor Party
ChildrenJacqueline Neumann
ResidenceFlinders View
Alma materUniversity of Queensland[1]
ProfessionLawyer[1]
Websitewww.shayneneumann.com.au

Shayne Kenneth Neumann (born 26 August 1961) is an Australian politician. He was elected to the Federal seat of Blair in November 2007, and re-elected in 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022. In March 2013, Shayne was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General and Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing. After the 2013 Federal election, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs and for Ageing. In 2016, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. After the 2019 Federal election, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel.

Early life

Neumann was born in Ipswich, Queensland.[2] Neither of his parents completed high school; his father was a meatworker and his mother was a shop assistant. In his maiden speech, he stated: "In my childhood, I was exposed to the twin evils of addiction to alcohol and gambling. I lived through the poverty caused thereby and the pain of the divorce which followed."[3]

Neumann attended Ipswich East State Primary School and Bundamba State Secondary College. His first job was as a cleaner at a meatworks in Dinmore.[3] He completed a Bachelors of Arts majoring in government and economics, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Queensland.[2] Shayne was a partner in the Brisbane-based law firm of Neumann and Turnour Lawyers, which he established at the age of 26 in partnership with Matthew Turnour (brother of former Federal MP Jim Turnour). He specialised in family law.[3]

Political career

Neumann has cited the rise of Pauline Hanson in his home town of Ipswich as his motivation for becoming more involved in politics.[4]

Neumann was the Labor candidate for Blair at the 2004 federal election, and was heavily defeated by sitting Liberal member Cameron Thompson who received 61.21 percent of the two-party-preferred vote. Blair was considered a Liberal safe seat at the time.[5]

Neumann sought a rematch in 2007. This time, he was aided by two factors. Firstly, a redistribution of the electoral boundaries, finalised in 2006, pushed Blair further into Ipswich while cutting out the conservative-leaning rural towns of Esk and Kingaroy, roughly halving Thompson's majority and putting Blair just outside the range of seats that Labor would have needed to win government.[6] Secondly, there was a big Labor resurgence across the country at the 2007 federal election under the leadership of Kevin Rudd. This resurgence was at its greatest in Rudd's home state of Queensland.[7] Neumann won the seat on a swing of 10.17 points.

Neumann was re-elected in 2010 with only a modest swing against him. He was re-elected in 2013, actually picking up a small swing in his favour as Labor lost government. In 2016, Neumann technically made Blair a safe Labor seat by taking 58.88 percent of the two-party vote.[8]

Neumann supported Rudd in the Australian Labor Party leadership spill on 26 June 2013.[9] He stated that "it was a really tough decision because I thought it was in the best interests of our state and of the people in my electorate."[9] In Labor's October 2013 leadership spill, Neumann supported Bill Shorten.[10]

Following the ALP's defeat at the 2013 federal election, Neumann served as a shadow minister under opposition leaders Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese, including as a member of Shorten's shadow cabinet from 2013 to 2019. He held the shadow portfolios of Indigenous affairs (2013–2016), ageing (2013–2016), Northern Australia (2016), immigration and border protection (2016–2019), and veterans' affairs and defence personnel (2019–2022). However, he was not included in the Albanese ministry after the ALP won the 2022 election.[2]

Political positions

Neumann is a Christian.[11] He has been described as part of the Labor Right,[12] [13] and as such he was opposed to same sex marriage until late 2015.[13][14] Neumann had publicly stated his opposition to same sex marriage in August 2011,[15] August 2013,[16] and June 2015.[17] In December 2015, Neumann confirmed his newfound support of same sex marriage.[14] In August 2016, Neumann said he was against the proposed plebiscite on same sex marriage.[18]

Neumann has been against pushes to repeal Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.[19] He said the laws protect free speech, but also protect against racial hatred.[19]

Electoral history

House of Representatives[20][21][22][23][24][25]
Year Electorate Party First Preference Result Two Candidate Result
Votes  % ±% Position Votes  % ±% Result
2007 Blair Labor 40,663 48.83 Increase 11.99 First 45,369 54.48 Decrease 10.17 Elected
2010 30,890 42.08 Decrease   9.23 First 39,814 54.24 Decrease   2.74 Elected
2013 32,818 41.55 Decrease   0.53 First 43,642 55.26 Increase   1.02 Elected
2016 35,691 41.90 Increase   0.35 First 50,158 58.88 Increase   3.62 Elected
2019 29.987 31.26 Decrease   9.79 First 49,123 51.21 Decrease   6.93 Elected
2022 26,494 35.01 Increase   3.75 First 57,575 55.23 Increase   4.02 Elected
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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Your complete guide to the federal candidates for Blair". TheChronicle.com.au. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Hon Shayne Neumann MP". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Maiden speech: Shayne Neumann". Hansard. House of Representatives. 21 February 2008.
  4. ↑ "Pauline made me do it, says new MP". Brisbane Times. 21 February 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  5. ↑ 2004 Federal Election, Blair Electorate Profile (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
  6. ↑ 2007 Federal Election, Blair Electorate Profile (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
  7. ↑ Two Party Preferred by State (AEC)
  8. ↑ Blair, QLD – AEC Tally Room. Australian Electoral Commission. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Why we had to back Rudd: Queensland MP". The Age. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "Shayne backs Shorten as next Labor leader". The Queensland Times. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  11. ↑ "Our Muslims do city proud, says Neumann". The Queensland Times. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  12. ↑ "Labor's new-look shadow ministry". SBS News. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Shayne Neumann now calls for marriage equality". Northern Star. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  14. 1 2 "Marriage equality now five votes away from success after Queensland MP confirms support". Star Observer. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  15. ↑ "Ipswich residents send message to Member for Blair Shayne Neumann that they're against gay marriage". The Courier-Mail. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  16. ↑ "Shayne Neumann says no to gay marriage". Brisbane Times. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  17. ↑ "Same-sex marriage row divides local Ipswich MPs". The Queensland Times. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  18. ↑ "Australians expected to vote on same sex marriage plebiscite in early 2017". News.com.au. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  19. 1 2 "Free speech protected under Racial Discrimination Act: Neumann". National Indigenous Radio Service. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  20. ↑ "House of Representatives Division First Preferences". AEC Virtual Tally Room. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "House of Representatives Division First Preferences". AEC Virtual Tally Room. 8 September 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "House of Representatives Division First Preferences". AEC Virtual Tally Room. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "Blair, QLD - AEC Tally Room". AEC Tally Room. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "Blair, QLD - AEC Tally Room". AEC Tally Room. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  25. ↑ "Blair, QLD - AEC Tally Room". AEC Tally Room. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
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