Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says she is humbled to have been appointed Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Regional Communications, Local Government and the Territories in a re-formed Coalition shadow ministry team announced today.

“When I was elected as the Federal Member for Mallee in 2019, in my maiden speech to Parliament I said

‘community is built on communication, if you don’t have it, the result is entrenched isolation. Nobody thrives in isolation’,”

Dr Webster said.

“It is my great honour to be appointed Shadow Minister for Regional Communications today.  Driving across the 83,412 km² of Mallee, I know like the back of my hand where many black spots are.  Despite the former Coalition Government’s significant effort leading up to 2022 filling 43 Mallee mobile black spots, since 2022 Labor have not filled one in their first three years in office.

“I will be taking up the fight to the Albanese Government not only for Mallee but all regional Australians on regional mobile and internet connectivity to overcome the tyranny of distance, enable remote work and working from home, and adopt best practice technology in agriculture and small business.

“The Nationals fought hard at the last election, and since in negotiation with the Liberal Party, to ensure there is a universal service obligation on telcos so we have reliable coverage in regional Australia.  I am excited to lead the charge taking this policy forward towards the next election.

Dr Webster also shared her excitement advocating for regional development and other ministerial responsibilities, emphasising that her fight to ensure Mallee get its fair share from Labor governments would not only continue locally, but shape how she takes up the fight for all regional Australians.

“In my maiden speech I also said

‘Roads, rail and bridges are essential for productivity and community life. Locals and tourists alike, need safe passage to travel throughout this vast electorate. Our farmers and industry need efficient transport mechanisms and systems to access domestic and export markets.’”

“I am incredibly proud to be also appointed Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories.  I was Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Development during 2022/23 and I work frequently with local government - I have 12 shires in Mallee alone! 

“Councils and shires have an impossible burden with low ratepayer bases and crumbling infrastructure. The Nationals, as we did on regional mobile coverage, stood firm at – and since – the election securing a Coalition commitment to a Regional Australia Future Fund to finance, in perpetuity, shires fixing roads, improving infrastructure, providing local health training opportunities, closing childcare deserts and meeting many other vital regional needs.”

Dr Webster thanked the stakeholders who had engaged strongly with her in her former role as Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health, including participating in two national summits in Mildura on the Regional Health Workforce and Regional Aged Care crisis.

“As Member for Mallee I will be working with my Nationals Party Room and parliamentary colleagues to progress policy I developed as Shadow Assistant Minister, which regional Australia desperately needs to address our poorer health outcomes and dire workforce shortages in the regions.”

Dr Webster also welcomed the reforming of the Coalition with the Liberal Party saying, “The Nationals have fought for and secured important reform for regional Australia. I am a strong advocate for principle, and the principle in the wake of the election is that The Nationals made promises to regional Australians we expected the Coalition to keep.  We stood firm for regional mobile coverage, a Regional Australia Future Fund, a big stick of divestiture powers to hold the supermarket duopoly accountable and keeping nuclear energy as a future option in our energy mix. After some debate, we have secured those major wins for regional Australians, and history will hardly notice what – in the end – was arguably not a formal break in the Coalition, or at worst a few days in limbo during negotiations.

“The Nationals make no apology in taking bold steps to stand up for regional Australians and we will continue to do so.”

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