ANNE Webster's success in holding the seat of Mallee in Saturday's federal election is tempered by the political reality of the Coalition losing power, but she says she will work with the new Labor government to get the best for the electorate and is ready to step up to the opposition front bench if called upon.

While the Nationals MP's victory was widely expected, speculation that she would suffer a large swing against turned out to be unfounded and she in fact increased her margin with a positive swing