WHILE the seat of Mallee is widely considered safe, incumbent member Anne Webster is wary of complacency.
“I know people talk about Mallee being a safe seat all the time, but I don’t think in these days that any seat is safe,” Dr Webster said.
“All I know is that my team and I have worked really hard for three years … and I know that the Mallee will benefit from the Coalition government more than they will benefit from a Labor government.”
Dr Webster visited Swan Hill on Wednesday, three days out from the federal election, hitting the polling booths to hand out flyers and talk to local electors in an attempt to make up for lost time after being in COVID-19 isolation for the past week.
An article in the Herald Sun earlier in the week reported that Mallee voters were twice as likely as normal to cast informal votes rather than make full use of their vote.
“I think there is certainly anger in the electorate towards governments, plural, and I think there are quite a few people that don’t understand how government works and how the constitution is set up,” Dr Webster said.
“But the polling booth is not the time to have those conversations.”
When asked about the chances are of Scott Morrison remaining in the top seat after Saturday, she was non-committal.
“Do we believe the polls? Do we believe the editorials? Do we believe the daily commentary that is in everyone’s faces? Or do we just wait and see?
“I’m very hopeful that the Coalition will be returned, particularly as I have just made announcements that are dependent on that outcome, and I really want the people of Mallee to benefit from those election promises.
“I will be very devastated if the Coalition is not returned because of the people who are relying on us to get the job done.”
Dr Webster gave the sense that while the campaign was an exciting time for her and her team, it was also very taxing, and she was keen for it to be over.
“I was reflecting this morning just how grateful we ought to be that we have a democracy where you can vote however you like – it’s an incredible thing and we shouldn’t take it for granted,” she said.
“Bring on Saturday.”
