Labor gender quota fight: Queensland state MP set to challenge sitting comrade for federal seat

Anthony Albanese has intervened in a looming preselection challenge against one of his backbenchers from Queensland’s assistant treasurer using Labor’s gender quota rules.

Anthony Albanese and Blair MP Shayne Neumann at the Ipswich show in 2021. Picture: Ebony Graveur

Anthony Albanese has intervened in a looming preselection challenge against one of his backbenchers, veteran Queensland MP Shayne Neumann, from the state’s assistant treasurer, Jen Howard, using Labor’s gender quota rules.

In an extraordinary move, Ms Howard this week submitted an expression of interest to ­contest the preselection for Mr Neumann’s Ipswich-based seat of Blair.

Ms Howard notified Labor headquarters of her intentions to challenge in defiance of the Prime Minister, who dumped the former veterans affairs spokesman from the frontbench after winning the 2022 federal election.

For months, sources have told The Australian that Mr Albanese has made it clear he wanted Mr Neumann to be protected from affirmative action quotas, requiring women to be preselected in at least half of the party’s held seats.

Labor has just two women out of their five Queensland House of Representative MPs and three senators: Aged Care Minister Anika Wells in the Brisbane seat of Lilley and Queensland senator Nita Green.

Mr Neumann, Labor’s only surviving regional or rural MP, holds Blair on a 5.2 per cent margin, and has previously told The Australian he wanted to run at the next election, due between August and May 2025.

Mr Neumann, a member of the Right faction, did not return calls about the possible preselection challenge. Instead, a spokesman from Mr Albanese’s office contacted The Australian to offer a statement of support from the Prime Minister.

“Shayne Neumann is a hardworking and effective member of my team who has my full support,’’ Mr Albanese said in the statement.

“I look forward to campaigning with Shayne for a Future Made in Australia and the re-election of our government.”

It is understood Mr Albanese fears that the seat, which Mr Neumann won off the Coalition in Kevin Rudd’s 2007 “Ruddslide,” could be lost if contested by a new Labor candidate.

Labor holds just five of Queensland’s 30 federal seats.

Ms Howard entered state parliament in 2015 and was last year elevated to assistant Treasurer by then incoming Premier Steven Miles, whose government is facing defeat at the October 26 election.

She was only recently re-endorsed by Queensland Labor to contest the state election

When asked if she had filed an expression of interest for Blair, Ms Howard said she could not comment because “it is a party matter”.

Fellow veteran federal MP Graham Perrett is expected to retire ahead of the next election, making way for a female candidate. At the 2022 election, Mr Perrett increased his margin in Moreton from a tight 1.9 per cent to 9.1 per cent, on the back of Greens preferences.