ANNE Webster has been promoted in the Coalition reshuffle last week after the Liberals and Nationals patched up their “quickie divorce” in the wake of the federal election drubbing.
Dr Webster has been elevated from an assistant shadow minister in the last Parliament to shadow minister for regional development, regional communications, local government and the territories.
She will sit in the outer minister frontbench of new Liberal leader Sussan Ley and re-elected Nationals’ leader David Littleproud.
“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,” Dr Webster said.
“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 said she was excited to be  advocating for regional development and other ministerial responsibilities, emphasising that her fight to ensure Mallee gets 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’.”
Dr Webster welcomed re-forming of the Coalition with the Liberal Party.  “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.”