Terry Young hopes to connect with small businesses in Longman

Meet the new MP who went to work on Monday morning, after playing a key role in deciding the 2019 Federal Election, at one of his Drummond Golf franchises.

Terry Young (centre) on the campaign trail posing at the Caboolture Show Grounds. (Image AAP/Steve Pohlner)

NEW federal LNP MP for Longman Terry Young has put ‘jobs and the economy’ at the top of his first political agenda.

Longman’s four per cent swing away from Labor was one of the key battlegrounds that saw the LNP government retained, but Mr Young had to wait until Monday night before sitting MP Susan Lamb conceded.

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Counting is ongoing as postal votes arrive, but Mr Young has a virtually unassailable lead of 5800 votes ahead of Ms Lamb on two-candidate preferred system.

Mr Young is a relative political unknown — but, so was Ms Lamb before him when she ousted Wyatt Roy in 2016.

Terry Young in his signature ute. (AAP Image/Claudia Baxter)

While waiting for votes to be counted, Mr Young went back to work on Monday morning, as usual, at one of his golf franchises. He’s now preparing to hand over the running of the businesses to managers.

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With a background in retail, Mr Young said his first port of call would be engaging the small businesses of his electorate.

“It’s more about being a link with the business community, job agencies and various

Labor MP Susan Lamb has been ousted after one term representing the Longman electorate. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

organisations in the electorate and seeing what I can do as a federal MP to get more jobs,” he said.

“Jobs and the economy — get that right and the rest flows on from there.

“Retail is all about serving the customer and making sure their needs are met and I’ll be doing that for the constituents.”

The 51-year-old father of four and grandfather of five started his professional career as the owner of a Chandlers store at Caboolture in 1992 before opening Good Guys Morayfield in 2001.

Mr Young will have plenty of support locally after Peter Dutton and Luke Howarth retained their neighbouring seats to the south and Sunshine Coast electorates Fisher and Fairfax remained blue ribbon.

“Any time I start a new role I keep my mouth shut, fly under the radar, pick up knowledge and if asked, put my hand up to perform a role,” he said.

“I’ve already spoke to a couple (neighbouring MPs). I had a chat with Luke Howarth, Ted O’Brien and (Peter Dutton).”

LNP MPs Peter Dutton (Dickson), Terry Young (Longman) and Luke Howarth (Petrie) catch up after their wins at the 2019 Federal Election.

Ms Lamb and Labor didn’t go down fighting, making $42 million worth of election promises across eight different projects in the region.

The LNP matched one of those pledges, $10 million for an eight-bed chemotherapy clinic at the Caboolture Hospital.

Mr Young will now prepare to hand over his retail role at his two golf businesses to a manager. and start his new life as a politician.

Ms Lamb was contacted for comment, but did not respond.

Susan Lamb poses with her dog Bear at Dakabin State High School on election day. (AAP Image/Claudia Baxter)