Member for Mallee - Transcript - Sky News with James Macpherson - Sunday 15 February 2026

‍DR ANNE WEBSTER MP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MALLEE

TOPICS: Coalition future under new Liberal leadership, Nationals party membership views on resuming Coalition, Australian of the Year and Grace Tame's comments on intifada

MACPHERSON

Anne, well, if it wasn't abundantly clear from that awkward press conference between Sussan Ley and David Littleproud just one week ago, it's clear now there was no love lost in that relationship. Have a listen to David Littleproud today.

LITTLEPROUD

Look, I think Angus understands the Coalition. The reality was, the Coalition was broken twice, because Coalition rules were broken twice. Sussan Ley broke the rule that policies aren't removed after an election. They're all kept and they're removed by exception. There were four that we wanted ...

MACPHERSON

Joining me now is Nationals MP Anne Webster. Anne, thanks for coming on the program. Is there a danger that David Littleproud's comments today about Sussan Ley risk making him look a little two-faced? I mean, it was only a week ago he stood beside her saying he fully trusted her and wanted to look forward. What do you make of his comments today? It was unnecessary, wasn't it?

WEBSTER

Well, the reality is, I'm sure he was asked a question, which I didn't hear James, so you know, forgive me, but I think David would have been talking about the two breaks that occurred, because some were very upset about that. I've just been to branch meetings today, driven 500 kilometres down and back to meet with National Party people who are glad that the Coalition is back together and on the road to change. We must hold this bad Albanese government to account, and we have got lost in the weeds over the last few weeks, and we definitely want to move on. And you know, that's a good thing.

MACPHERSON

What ... what do you want to see change in the Coalition?

WEBSTER

Look, I think it's incredibly important that the Liberals understand - and I'm sure they do – that the National Party is a separate party. We're not a sub-branch of the Liberal Party. We are a different party. And when we have party room discussions, debates, we are very passionate, as I've spoken to you about before, James, because our people, our regional people, are incredibly important to us. We want to see their interests brought to the front of debates. And it's important that the Liberal Party respects that, and almost everyone does. It's important that we have processes that work so that our views are not lost simply because we don't have the numbers that the Liberal Party does. If we're in Coalition, then that mutual respect is incredibly important.

MACPHERSON

Anne, for the good of the country, we really need the Coalition to work well so we trust that you get what you're after. I want to get your thoughts on whether or not Grace Tame should be stripped of her Australian of the Year award after that speech she gave the other weekend, she led the crowd in a chant to ‘globalise the intifada’. She referred to Australia as a ‘so-called democracy’. The reason I raised the topic with you is I wonder if you might have a different perspective to some of your colleagues, like Matt Canavan, who argued that stripping her of the title might risk making her a martyr. I think differently. I think not stripping her of the title risks undermining the title and just giving licence to people to use platforms they have been privileged with to then beat up on the country. I'm just curious what you think about that.

WEBSTER

Look, I think when someone is awarded a very prestigious award, such as, you know, Australian of the Year, my goodness, one person gets it a year - generally speaking, one person - and that ... comes with it enormous responsibility to hold that award and all that it means before yourself. Now for most people who are fortunate enough to be awarded Australian of the Year - I think they think that way - it is clear to me, in watching Grace Tame this week, that I think that she lost her way and has taken a road that I can't imagine, I can't imagine any other Australian of the Year taking, and I feel actually sorry for her. I know she won't care about that, but I do feel sorry for her, because I really hope that she can find a rewarding role in life. And it's not screaming at a protest rally in Sydney. It was unedifying, shall I say. And, you know, I think Matt's right. We don't need to make her more of a martyr than she already feels she is.

MACPHERSON

So, you look the other way, that's what Matt was suggesting, I guess, just ...

WEBSTER

Yeah, look, I don't often look the other way. It's not my responsibility to be taking or giving, granting those awards. It is up to the Prime Minister, I assume, of the day. And I would certainly think that Anthony Albanese ought to be looking at this and reflecting whether Grace Tame’s behaviour was reflective of the award that she received.

MACPHERSON

Anne Webster, I always enjoy talking with you. Thanks so much for coming on tonight.

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