Member for Mallee - Transcript - ABC Radio Wimmera and Central Victoria - Thursday 22 January 2026

‍DR ANNE WEBSTER MP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MALLEE

TOPICS: National Day of Mourning over Bondi massacre, hate speech bill, resignation from Shadow Ministry, Nationals solidarity, future of coalition with Liberal Party

PARKER

In just a sec, we're going to speak to the Federal Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster, who is one of The Nationals who's tendered her resignation … let's continue our discussion about the Coalition being in crisis. In a press conference, David Littleproud just told the media that he has told Sussan Ley that this decision may well be final, that they are out of the Coalition. Certainly, the future's in doubt after all those Nats quit the Shadow Cabinet, including Leader David Littleproud, Member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell, so the seat of Nicholls takes in Echuca, and Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster. Anne Webster, good morning, though not a good morning for the Coalition. Why have you tendered your resignation, Anne Webster?

WEBSTER

Sorry, Fiona. Yeah, Member for Mallee. Yes, we, as part of the National Party, have taken a very serious view of this legislation. And, you know, I just want to acknowledge today is a National Day of Mourning for the loss of Jewish lives and other lives on Bondi a month ago, and it is awful, it sticks in our craw that this is even a discussion for today. However, over the last few days, we have been sandwiched with a rushed piece of legislation that is incredibly important for our national security. I am very proud to sit in the National Party room, which is the most cohesive and unified, open, transparent, democratic that I have ever sat in. We came to the conclusion that there were issues with the bill that we just could not agree to.

PARKER

This is the hate crimes bill?

WEBSTER

This is the hate crimes bill, Yes.

PARKER

Thank you.

WEBSTER

So, we as a party room directed our senators because of the sandwich of time, the pressure that was on us to draw up the amendments that we agreed to as a party room. This is … this is, like, I would need half an hour to tell you what has really gone on in terms of how much work we did with the Liberal Party to try and make these things work. However, we directed our senators to try and put up the amendments and to, in the Senate, which was about 10.30 that night, and those amendments were not agreed to. We had directed our senators in solidarity as a party room to vote against the legislation. Now, protocol says that our senators need to tend to their resignation or offer their resignation. We agreed during the day that if that is what was going to happen, that we would all resign. It is untenable. The coalition is now untenable. I am very sad to say under the leadership of Sussan Ley and we will... continue to get back to work on all the issues that matter to Australians.

PARKER

Sure, you say you don't want to be making this a discussion for today, but you've made it a discussion for today. Does it concern you that if the Libs and the Nats split, that you'll never be in a position where you're in a party that's in government again?

WEBSTER

No, not at all. I believe, you know, as you would know, Fiona, politics is a moving feast or, you know, depending on the day, a moving disaster. Either way, we are committed to representing our region. My region of Mallee, I had hundreds and hundreds of emails from people saying, ‘Please do not vote for this bill’ and I did not have one, not one email that said, please vote for this bill. The bill was shambolic. It was brought to us at the last minute. We tried our best with our Liberal legal colleagues to improve the bill, and there were some improvements made. We could have voted for the migration bill, but that was in Jillian Segal's report back in July. which the government did nothing about. So, this was all … honestly it was a political stunt by the Prime Minister and we wanted to work it out to the best for the best outcome for Australians. This is not a simple piece of legislation. It is really complicated.

LOWE

This is Rebekah … this is Rebekah Lowe here. How can you form government without the Liberals though?

WEBSTER

Well, we can't form government without being a larger number of people. Clearly, we hold very similar values to the Liberal Party. We have a very collegiate relationship.

LOWE

So how would it work then? How would it actually work then?

WEBSTER

Well, it's going to be up to the Liberal Party at the moment. We need to give them space to work out how they are going to move forward and what they are prepared to address. The fact of the matter is that David did an excellent job. From our point of view, he kept us informed of every step, every letter, every piece of communication that went on between Susan Lee and himself, and we made a collective decision that on principle, we could not support this legislation to go through.

PARKER

How do you think National Party voters are viewing all this?

WEBSTER

Well, I'm receiving texts, ‘Thank you very much’. ‘Please ..’ you know, ‘…continue’. I can't tell you the number of people who have texted me or contacted me or spoken to me. over the last 12 months who've said you just need to separate from the Liberal Party. That's not a principle that we hold with. We want to work with our Liberal colleagues. However, at the moment, this is, you know, you reach a point where it just can't continue. It's untenable. And at the moment, it is untenable.

PARKER

Is this anything to do with One Nation surging in the polls?

WEBSTER

Look, I know One Nation would like to think that. No, it's not. People will be making their own decisions. …

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