General News
6 May, 2025
The Nationals’ Anne Webster remains Member for Mallee after election outcome
Mallee's incumbent member has held the seat in what has been a historic loss for the Coalition as a whole.
As the dust settles on the Coalition’s historic defeat on election night, Dr Anne Webster has been elected for her third term in the Mallee electorate.
The Nationals have kept their historic hold on Mallee in the House of Representatives despite Coalition losses throughout the lower house.
At time of print, Labor have formed majority government with 85 seats to the Coalition’s 39, dropping from 58 as Opposition last term.
A Labor Government means the Central Goldfields Shire Council will likely only need to find $1 million to fully fund the Maryborough Outdoor Swimming Pool Complex.
This will only be true if Labor follows through with their $4.5 million election commitment for the pool, alongside council receiving a $4.5 million State Government grant for the works.
On Sunday, Dr Webster said she was humbled to represent Mallee for the next three years, although she was “extremely dissapoint[ed]” by the results overall.
“I will be vocal in Mallee and in Canberra to ensure Mallee gets its fair share and is not railroaded by Labor’s agenda,” she said.
However, without a Coalition government, Dr Webster’s election committments “will not come to fruition” — although she will work with the shire to support these initiatives.
“From Opposition, The Nationals will keep fighting for you, your community and regional Australia,” she said.
Speaking to The Addy prior to the election, however, Dr Webster said this task is easier when the Coalition is in government.
“You work as collaboratively as you can but there is always a political pushback,” she said.
“It’s not the same as when we’re in government.”
The National’s Dr Webster leads by over 37,000 votes at time of print, with a slight swing to the party.
“Not only has there been a swing towards The Nationals in Mallee this election, it looks likely that we have won Mallee on first preferences and now hold Mallee with one of the largest margins for a Coalition seat in the nation,” she said.
It seems that Greg Olsen, Labor’s candidate for Mallee, was unable to follow through on his goal to put pressure on the Nationals.
“I don’t think I’ve got unrealistic expectations to try to at least put a bit of pressure on that margin,” he told The Addy in March.
At time of print Mr Olsen has secured over 28,000 votes, 30.3 percent of the preference count, less than Labor’s previous candidate Carole Hart at 31.01 percent.