THE Prime Minister has interceded in a looming preselection challenge against backbencher Blair MP Shayne Neumann.

State Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard is using Labor’s gender quota rules to make the unusual move against Mr Neumann.

State Assistant Treasurer Minister Ms Howard submitted an expression of interest to contest the preselection for Mr Neumann’s seat of Blair.

Ms Howard notified Labor headquarters of her intentions in defiance of the Prime Minister,

Mr Neumann was moved from the role of veterans’ affairs spokesman in the 2022 federal election.

Mr Albanese has made it clear Mr Neumann should be protected from affirmative action quotas that mean women must be preselected in at least half of Labour-held seats.

The Prime MInister told The Ipswich Tribune he wanted to campaign with Mr Neumann for “the re-election of our government”.

“Shayne Neumann is a hardworking and effective member of my team who has my full support,” the PM said.

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

Labor has two women out of 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 is Labor’s only surviving regional or rural MP.

Mr Neumann won the seat in 2007, and he holds Blair on a 5.2 percent margin.

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

Ms Howard entered state parliament in 2015 and she was only recently re-endorsed by Queensland Labor to contest the state election

Veteran federal MP Graham Perrett is expected to retire ahead of the next election, making way for a female candidate even though he increased his margin in Moreton from 1.9 per cent to 9.1 per cent, on the back of Greens preferences.