Mr Hartsuyker, when asked about his chances of a ministerial portfolio, said representing the people in the new seat of Cowper was his first obligation, however, he would be happy to serve in whatever capacity the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister would wish.

He was the Vocational Education and Skills Minister until a cabinet reshuffle in February and had earlier served as the Assistant Minister for Employment.

Voters returned Mr Hartsuyker at the July federal election when he saw off a challenge from former Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott.

Mr Hartsukyer secured 53,215 votes or 54.85 per cent, on a two candidate preferred basis, with Mr Oakeshott on 43,799 votes.

Seven candidates contested the seat of Cowper.

This is Mr Hartsuyker’s sixth election victory.

The MP said his focus would be to deliver on his election commitments which included funding for Port Macquarie Airport and Oxley Oval.

Ongoing projects include the Pacific Highway upgrade which Mr Hartsuyker said was a major boost to infrastructure and the region’s economy.

The Cowper MP will have a seat at the government table after it became clear on the weekend that Malcolm Turnbull was re-elected as Prime Minister.

Mr Hartsuyker said he was delighted that the government had been returned.

The Coalition has now won the 76 seats needed to form majority government.

The final make-up of the Upper House is not yet known but it will contain Senators with diverse views.

“It will be incumbent on all members in the parliament to try to make parliament work,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

The possibility of electronic voting has come to the public attention since the election.

The Prime Minister believes electronic voting must be looked at. Mr Hartsuyker echoed that position.

“I think people would have preferred an outcome sooner rather than later in this election,” he said.

“The case for revisiting that [electronic voting] is something we should do.”

Mr Hartsuyker has given an undertaking to have an office here after Port Macquarie became part of Cowper thanks to an electoral boundary redistribution.

He has represented Cowper since 2001.