INCOMING National Party Member for Mildura Jade Benham says the flood crisis response and road recovery are among her priorities, as she declared it was time to “get to work” representing the community.
While the Victorian Electoral Commission is yet to formally declare the Mildura seat outcome, Ms Benham continues to hold a narrow yet unassailable lead over Independent Ali Cupper, with 86 per cent of votes counted.
Ms Benham said she was confident of forming a harmonious working relationship with a majority Labor Government, while acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead in Opposition.
She said she had received a phone call from Ms Cupper to congratulate her on the victory and it was now time to move on and hold the government to account.
“The Mildura district is sending a very clear message to the government that we need our own voice — the National Party is that strong voice, so we will be working really hard to be as loud and as effective as we possibly can,” Ms Benham said.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but working with the government to make sure that they are held to account with regard to regional Victoria.
“Having a really harmonious working relationship there is going to be vital in being able to deliver on policy and promises and to make changes for the good of everyone.”
Ms Cupper has received 33.87 per cent of first preference votes compared to Ms Benham’s 25.87 per cent, but strong preferences to The Nationals candidate has her favoured to claim the seat with 51.34 per cent of the two-candidate preferred votes to Ms Cupper’s 48.66 per cent.
Ms Benham said that in Opposition, The Nationals would continue to fight to deliver bespoke regional and rural policies with regard to planning, healthcare, childcare and mental health over the coming four years.
“That’s a big ask and a lofty ambition to have within the first four years, but I think if we are delivering on those and making in-roads … then we will have achieved a huge amount of work in Opposition, so that is what I will be fighting for,” she said.
“Now, we have a really strong National Party team around the state and we will have a really loud voice so that we can get to work.”
Ms Benham said the flood and road recovery as well as healthcare would be among her first priorities, as well as streamlining land rezoning processes.
She said there would continue to have many party room discussions as well as those with electorate residents ahead of being sworn into office on December 20.
“It will be working very closely with the team around me on the ground here, first and foremost, and answering emails and talking to people because the best part about this job is about having conversations with people because they’re the most important aspect of our community,” she said.
“We stand for regional Victoria and we have numbers in the chamber now so we can’t be ignored and we are a team of people who are just that — people.
“We’re out there listening to people, but we’ll be able to hopefully bring that back and work with the government to get results.
“If I get to four years time on the night of the election and can sit back and say ‘I could not have worked any harder, there’s nothing left in the tank’ then I’ll be happy.”
