The Liberal National Party have got exactly what they want in a Queensland deputy who stands in stark contrast to new Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls.
Nanango MP Deb Frecklington was elected unopposed as deputy at the LNP's party room meeting on Friday after Mr Nicholls narrowly claimed the top job from incumbent Lawrence Springborg.
But while Mr Nicholls' polished and professional aura bodes well among business leaders and in his affluent inner-Brisbane seat of Clayfield, Ms Frecklington's background as a farm worker and rural solicitor has given the LNP the dynamic it needs to have a proper tilt at the next election.
"This is an extremely exciting time for me because I am very proud to be representing rural and regional Queensland," Ms Frecklington said after the spill.
"That is something that I am extremely passionate about."
Born in the small town of Miles, in outback Queensland, Ms Frecklington worked as a solicitor, property manager and in advertising sales before winning her seat in the Newman landslide of 2012.
The 44-year-old told reporters she'd also worked as a farmer with her husband growing wheat, sorghum and summer crops such as chick peas and mung beans.
She may need to cultivate a fresh relationship in the hung parliament with the two Katter's Australian Party MPs, who backed Mr Springborg ahead of Friday's ballot before reluctantly agreeing to work with Mr Nicholls.
"I'm always happy to talk to any of my parliamentary colleagues that sit in this chamber," Ms Frecklington said when asked whether it would be her job to mend the LNP's relationship with the crossbenchers.
"I'll certainly be looking forward to continuing any conversations I've had with them in the past."
