As New England's Labor candidate, Yvonne Langenberg recently saw Barnaby Joyce returned as the Member for Northern Tablelands, the Coalition returned to government and her party's leader fall. Little to celebrate among that lot. Nevertheless, AEC figures do record a +5.51 per cent swing to Labor this time around, but is that particular statistic as encouraging as it looks?
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Ms Langenberg is one who will get a say in who becomes the Opposition's next leader and said she was conflicted about who would make the better leader and still had to make her decision.
I do tell people, until another Labor candidate is endorsed, I will be the labor spokesperson for New England - the Shadow Member for New England.
- Yvonne Langenberg
"I am wavering between 'tried and true' and someone who is loved, like Albo. It would have been wonderful if we had had a woman actually standing," she said.
Ms Langenberg said she was grateful and optimistic because the the AEC figures showed an increased vote for Labor in New England at this election.
"First of all, I am really thankful to all those people who put their faith in what Labor was doing and to all those people who helped me throughout my campaign," she said.
"It's been a marvellous experience, going around and speaking to people across the spectrum and hearing what they had to say. As I keep on telling my supporters, it's onwards and upwards from here.
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"Considering what has been happening across the nation, I am feeling quite chuffed that we've had an uptick, rather than a downward swing."
Mr Joyce won the seat convincingly with 48,073 or 54.99 per cent of the primary vote. Adam Blakester drew 12,958 which was 14.82 per cent, and Yvonne Langenberg attracted 10,948 or 12.52 per cent leaving her in third position.
"It's been interesting looking at the different booths in the different areas," she said.
"I seem to have done better in those more outflung areas, even Tenterfield, Bingara and Quirindi.
"I do tell people, until another Labor candidate is endorsed, I will be the labor spokesperson for New England - the Shadow Member for New England. I am always available for anyone, until the party determines otherwise."
If you go back to 2013, Barnaby Joyce won this seat with 54.21 per cent of the primaries. The labor vote was 10,825 or 11.86 per cent. Three years later in 2016, Tony Windsor ran against Mr Joyce, whose count fell to 52.29 per cent. Mr Windsor received 27,763 votes, but Labor's vote crumbled to 6662 or 7.01.
Perhaps it was always predictable that this election would see a small swing back to the Labor camp. But it seems the majority of it came back from Mr Windsor.
