Victorian Nationals: Anne Webster MP – Taking a stand for Mallee

Nationals stand firm for gun owners, free speech and regional Australians
Thursday 22 January 2026

Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says she has a very heavy heart over the dissolution of the Liberal-National coalition but commits to Mallee being heard loud and clear in Canberra and across the nation.

“Take, for instance, Thursday – the day we split from the coalition. I spoke that day to multiple national media channels about the hundreds of Mallee people who contacted me supporting a strong stand for lawful firearms ownership and free speech,” Dr Webster said, highlighting how The Nationals’ principled decision to stand alone brings more focus to what The Nationals have to say for their electorates.

“My focus representing Mallee in Parliament is completely unchanged – giving Mallee constituents a voice, raising the issues that matter to them, and fighting against a bad government, holding Labor accountable for terrible decisions that time and again treat regional Australians like second-class citizens.”

Dr Webster explained the sequence of events that led to the end of the Coalition under Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley, emphasising The Nationals party room had never been more united.

“In a rushed January sitting, at a pace and on terms solely of an arrogant Prime Minister’s choosing, The Nationals worked around the clock over 2 days with 10 – ten! – Party Room meetings. Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud ensured we all had our say, every step of the way, on Labor’s proposed knee-jerk changes to firearms laws and free speech,” Dr Webster said, confirming The Nationals opposed both the firearms and free speech bills.

“Mr Albanese’s omnibus bill was an omnishambles, bolting together unrelated ‘responses’ to the real problem at hand after the terrible Bondi massacre. The right response is to tackle Islamic extremism head-on.  The Nationals supported sensible changes to migration laws to deport hate preachers and sympathisers with hate groups.  In our 10 Party Room meetings and negotiations The Nationals fought for the very protections hundreds of Mallee constituents said they wanted, and Labor effectively silenced Mallee’s voices with their gag motions to speed through their out-of-control omnibus. Labor were even making changes to the Bill as it rolled through the House!”

The parliamentary debate saw all four Nationals senators voting against both Bills in the Senate, with one such vote – in the eyes of the three senators that were Shadow Ministers – obliging them to offer their resignations to the Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley for appearing to breach shadow cabinet solidarity.   Ms Ley accepted those resignations, despite Mr Littleproud urging her to forgive the Senators for voting as their Party Room had directed them to.

When Ms Ley would not retract the ministerial sackings, Dr Webster and all Nationals shadow ministers resigned their own shadow ministry positions in solidarity.

“Those brave Nationals Senators voted as the Nationals Party Room had directed. They were not acting alone – we were all united, and so I have resigned alongside Mr Littleproud, Senator McKenzie and the other Nationals shadow ministry,” Dr Webster said.

“It has been my great honour to serve as Australia’s first shadow minister for regional communications, and also as shadow minister for regional development, local government and territories.”

“I greatly enjoy working with passion and collegiality with Liberal colleagues in those portfolios and I am confident we and the Liberals can hold Labor accountable.

“Stepping aside from Coalition is a highly principled position that comes at great cost, but it is worth it because I am elected to represent the people of Mallee.  I can fight for Mallee residents in our current arrangement, and I intend to in any future coalition.”