ANNE Webster will be The Nationals’ candidate for the seat of Mallee at the next federal election, after no challengers emerged during party preselection.
For the second term in a row, Dr Webster was preselected unopposed, as the party backed its sitting MPs in Victoria.
In 2019, Dr Webster was originally preselected from a field of six Nationals candidates in Mallee, and no candidates within the party contested her during preselection in 2021. She said continuing that trend was an honour.
“It shows the faith the National Party members of Mallee have in what I have been able to achieve for the electorate. But the true test comes at election time and I will continue to work hard for all of Mallee until then – and hopefully beyond,” Dr Webster said.
Two other Nationals MPs in the state, Nicholls MP Sam Birrell and Gippsland MP Darren Chester, were also confirmed as candidates to contest the next election, expected to be held next year.
Dr Webster said The Nationals had proven to be a strong voice for regional Victorians.
“Since the Federal Government changed in 2022, we have worked hard in Opposition to ensure our constituents are represented,” she said.
“The strength of the National Party in Victoria is evident at state level as well, regaining seats previously held by independents.
“Federal Labor is giving the Nationals plenty of ammunition to demonstrate the Labor-Greens-independent disconnect from regional Australia, such as VNI West, slapping farmers with a biosecurity levy for the risk imposed by their international competitors, and reinstating water buybacks that leave irrigation communities like patchwork quilts of dry and irrigated land.”
The Nationals will select candidates for other federal divisions at a later date.
