Shayne Neumann

The Honourable
Shayne Neumann
MP
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Blair
Assumed office
24 November 2007
Preceded by Cameron Thompson
Personal details
Born (1961-08-26) 26 August 1961
Ipswich, Queensland[1]
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party
Alma mater University of Queensland[1]
Profession Lawyer[1]

Shayne Kenneth Neumann (born 26 August 1961) is an Australian politician. He is an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2007, representing the Division of Blair. On 25 March 2013, Newman was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General and Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing.[2]

Upon the defeat of the Rudd Government at the 2013 federal election, Neumann was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Ageing under new leader Bill Shorten.[3]

Political career

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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6] Neumann won the seat on a swing of 10.17 percent.

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.[7]

Neumann supported Kevin Rudd in the Australian Labor Party leadership spill on 26 June 2013.[8] 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."[8] In Labor's October 2013 leadership spill, Neumann supported Bill Shorten.[9]

Political positions

Neumann is a Christian.[10] He has been described as part of the Labor Right,[11] and as such he was opposed to same sex marriage until late 2015.[11][12] Neumann had publicly stated his opposition to same sex marriage in August 2011,[13] August 2013,[14] and June 2015.[15] In December 2015, Neumann confirmed his newfound support of same sex marriage.[12] In August 2016, Neumann said he was against the proposed plebiscite on same sex marriage.[16]

Neumann has been against pushes to repeal Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.[17] He said the laws protect free speech, but also protect against racial hatred.[17]

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. ↑ "Full list of changes to the Gillard ministry". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "Neumann Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Ageing". The Queensland Times. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  4. ↑ 2004 Federal Election, Blair Electorate Profile (ABC)
  5. ↑ 2007 Federal Election, Blair Electorate Profile (ABC)
  6. ↑ Two Party Preferred by State (AEC)
  7. ↑ Blair, QLD - AEC Tally Room. Australian Electoral Commission. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Why we had to back Rudd: Queensland MP". The Age. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  9. ↑ "Shayne backs Shorten as next Labor leader". The Queensland Times. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "Our Muslims do city proud, says Neumann". The Queensland Times. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Shayne Neumann now calls for marriage equality". Northern Star. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Marriage equality now five votes away from success after Queensland MP confirms support". Star Observer. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "Shayne Neumann says no to gay marriage". Brisbane Times. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  15. ↑ "Same-sex marriage row divides local Ipswich MPs". The Queensland Times. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  16. ↑ "Australians expected to vote on same sex marriage plebiscite in early 2017". News.com.au. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  17. 1 2 "Free speech protected under Racial Discrimination Act: Neumann". National Indigenous Radio Service. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Cameron Thompson		 Member for Blair
2007–present 		Incumbent
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