That’s the view of political commentators, who say candidate Dr Anne Webster, now stands a real chance of retaining the seat for the Nationals.

Sitting MP Andrew Broad, who holds the seat with close to a 20 per cent margin, decided not to stand for re-election, following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Australian National University fellow Dr Chris Wallace said Mallee deserved a strong representative.

“People scratch their heads and see the political passengers who have been sent from Mallee, decade in and decade out,” Dr Wallace said.

“It’s not just the most recent member.”

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She said she’d recently looked back at Parliamentarians who had represented Mallee, in the past.

“It wasn’t as if Mallee was full of stellar Liberal-National Party cabinet ministers, it’s been back-bench time servers, and it’s just not good enough.”

Dr Webster, from Mildura, founded Zoe Support, an organisation that helps young mothers go back to study or training.

It was the Mildura social worker’s second attempt at preselection, having lost to sitting MP Andrew Broad, in 2013. About 200 members chose Dr Webster, over three rounds of voting.

Mr Broad said after stories about his private life, it was clear a different Nationals candidate would best serve the people of Mallee. A woman, reported to be 20 years younger than Mr Broad, reportedly met with the married MP after a month of correspondence that began through a dating website.

Dr Wallace said it was important Mallee, as a jewel in the party’s crown, sent good members to Canberra.

That was equally the case, if the coalition lost government, at the next Federal election.

“There is a big fight to be had to lift the standard of policy. You have to have better people, in the party room, fighting for intelligent, long term policies,” Dr Wallace said.

“I think other National and Liberal Party branches ought to take note of what’s just happened in Mallee and how they, too, can lift the standard of their local members and make Australia a better place.”

She said the preselection sent a good sign, about the health of National Party branches in Mallee.

“They (the members) are to be congratulated that they have reflected a little longer and put someone up who is likely to make a big contribution to the party and the country.”

Political commentator Kevin Bonham said it was the right decision.

“I think they have chosen the kind of candidate who is designed to cover off against independents,” Dr Bonham said.

“She’s not exactly a Nationals candidate from central casting.”

Under normal circumstances, Mallee was a safe National party seat.

“There is always a risk, when you have a vacancy, that you will lose to an independent.” 

Dr Webster studied a Bachelor of Sociology and History and a Bachelor of Social Work Honours at Latrobe University in Mildura, before completing her PhD at Australian National University.

"I will continue to be a strong advocate for my community, and I am excited to take up the fight for the people of regional Victoria,” Dr Webster said. 

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