MEMBER for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster, has received elevated shadow ministerial position following the brief breakup, and subsequent reformation, of the Federal Coalition.
The announcement of her new role came on the same day Opposition Leader and Member for Farrer Sussan Ley revealed her full first shadow ministry.
Dr Webster moves from shadow assistant minister for regional health to the regional development, regional communications, local government and the territories portfolio.
She said regional communications has been an important issue for her for awhile.
“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.
“Driving across the 83,412 square kilometres 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 welcomed the expanded areas of focus provided by the other elements of her new portfolio, again calling back to her first official words in Federal Parliament.
“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’,” she said.
“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 and 2023 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 … 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.”
A week ago a shadow ministry was looking out of reach for Dr Webster as her National Party split from senior Coalition partner, the Liberals, over the pair’s election defeat post mortem.
Despite saying a week ago the Nationals were going to “stand apart” from the Liberal Party as part of a “bold decision”, Dr Webster has since defended the brief separation as “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,” she said.
“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.”
Dr Webster’s new appointment came as the man who man who spearheaded the Coalition’s nuclear push, David Littleproud, is set to take charge of economic policies as part of Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s first shadow cabinet.
Ms Ley unveiled a joint shadow cabinet and ministry alongside Nationals leader David Littleproud after locking in the fresh Coalition agreement following a rocky break up.
“Our team is one of strivers and optimists of leaders and listeners,” Ms Ley said.
Liberal deputy leader Ted O’Brien becomes shadow treasurer while Mr Littleproud retains the agriculture portfolio.
Julian Leeser retakes his old role as shadow attorney-general after he resigned from shadow cabinet to campaign for the Indigenous voice referendum in 2023.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price will become the opposition’s defence industry and personnel spokeswoman, demoted from the shadow cabinet to the outer ministry.
Senator Nampijinpa Price sent shockwaves through the coalition when she defected from the Nationals to the Liberals after the election.
Angus Taylor loses the treasury portfolio and will become the coalition’s defence spokesman.
Former soldier Andrew Hastie leaves defence to take on home affairs, while Dan Tehan takes on energy and emissions reduction.
James Paterson picks up finance after moving on from home affairs.
Jane Hume, who oversaw the Coalition’s disastrous work-from-home policy, lost the finance portfolio and has been dropped from the shadow cabinet.
Michaelia Cash takes on foreign affairs and Anne Ruston remains in health.
Nationals deputy Kevin Hogan retains trade and Senate leader Bridget McKenzie keeps infrastructure.
Former Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack have been dumped from the shadow ministry, after casting doubt on Mr Littleproud’s position during the week the parties were separate.
