A future National party leadership contender, Barnaby Joyce, has claimed victory in New England following the retirement of high-profile independent Tony Windsor.
An ecstatic Joyce rejected suggestions he may take over the leadership from the National party leader, Warren Truss, and thanked his supporters in New England where he spent his childhood.
"[The leadership issue] is miles away, I've got no real interest in that, I am only interested in getting my office up and running," Joyce said.
"To come home after so long away and be accepted back in the house – I just find that incredible. I will work extremely hard."
Joyce took a big gamble to resign his Queensland Senate spot to contest Windsor's seat well before the popular independent had announced his retirement. Windsor had held the seat since 2001 and sat on a margin of 21.5%.
"You don't know how relieved I am," he said.
"I had three kids at school. I resigned from a job and I didn't really have another job to go to. This was a big risk, but you do it because it's right."
Country Labor ran a candidate, Stephen Hewitt and independents Rob Taber and Jamie McIntyre tried to capitalise on Windsor's popularity to no avail.
Joyce, a colourful National party character, has a higher recognition factor than Truss, however, the National party has a tradition where leaders are not challenged for the job and can serve until they choose to retire.
Joyce is a close friend of Liberal leader Tony Abbott as they went to school together at the elite Sydney Catholic school, Riverview.
When he was asked about the effect of the support of his friend, the billionaire Gina Rinehart, Joyce dismissed it.
"I have friends at the top, friends at the bottom, if I'm your friend I will stick by you," Joyce said.
Joyce predicted "pandemonium" in Canberra if the billionaire Clive Palmer, head of the Palmer United Party, wins the seat of Fairfax in Queensland from an anti-Liberal protest vote that has taken away numbers from the Liberal National Party incumbent Ted O'Brien.
"It will be pandemonium," said Joyce. "Clive hasn't given good reason as to why he would be a good member."