But the formalities don’t stop there. The Deputy Prime Minister is set to be officially sworn in with his colleagues at Parliament House early next week.

Mr Joyce was joined by family and supporters at the commission’s Armidale office where the official declaration of the poll was made and, in the end, Mr Joyce received more than half of the primary vote.

At the last count, the returned federal member received 53,530 votes. “I’d like to thank so many people I’d never met in my life who have given me their vote and by doing so have given me the great honour and responsibility to represent them,” he said.

“It’s an honour to represent the people of New England once more.

“I take it incredibly seriously and I look forward to delivering on the promises that were set out during the campaign.

“But more important is to make sure we have a strong effective government that can deal with some of the trials and tribulations that we see around us at the moment, be it the uncertainties in the South China Sea or what we’ve seen in France.”

“All this has to be managed by not only being a very good local member, being the best local member you can possibly be, but making sure we can do the best job we can for the nation.”

With his wife Natalie by his side, Mr Joyce thanked his team of supporters and volunteers who pounded the pavement during the eight-week-long campaign.

He said his next move was to head to Canberra, where he will be officially sworn in, again, as the nation’s deputy prime minister on Tuesday morning, following a party room meeting on Monday.

“The next thing to do is get ready for three years of hard work,” he said.

Mr Joyce is tipped to retain his agriculture and water portfolios.