CAROLE Hart has been announced as the Labor Party candidate for Mallee at this year's federal election.
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The Maryborough resident said she was "looking forward to meeting people and developing a better understanding of the unique needs of each community in the electorate".
"I would be honored to represent the communities of Mallee in a Shorten Labor government," Ms Hart said.
"I'm really excited about running. It's really an exciting time considering how big the electorate is; there will be so many opportunities to do so many good things in rural areas.
"This election is a real unknown for Mallee. I'm confident that we have great policy and that we can get the message across that Labor is an option."
Ms Hart has a background of working in community services, including youth, homelessness, and aged care in Melbourne and Darwin before moving back to Maryborough several years ago.
Ms Hart said key issues she was concerned with included the consequences of climate change, the challenges around water and protecting the environment for future generations.
She also said employment and health were also two advocacy issues for herself.
"When I look at our regional and rural areas, and what we have to keep young people in the region, there needs to be more," she said.
"Employment and retaining those professionals is key to growing regional towns, no matter where they are in Australia. We need to think about what we can do to attract people to those areas."
She said a challenge for the Mallee candidates would be being across a number of issues.
"It will also be a challenge to get around the region, but it's a chance to speak to locals, and see what they want and need," she said.
"There could be issues particular to Horsham that are also particular to other areas too. Health, for example, is an electorate-wide issue, and really it's an issue for regional areas across the country."
Ms Hart is the eighth candidate confirmed for the seat of Mallee.
Serge Petrovich was announced as the Liberal Party candidate last month, while Dr Anne Webster is the Nationals' candidate.
They join Science Party candidate Leigh Firman, Citizens' Electoral council candidate Chris Lahy and three independents Cecilia Moar, Jason Modica and Ray Kingston.
Sitting Nationals MP Andrew Broad announced he was stepping down in December following a scandal.
A date for the Federal Election is yet to be announced.
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