General News
22 February, 2025
Federal MP plans for Horsham office
Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster, says she is hopeful of in the future opening an office in Horsham, but with the satellite office budget as it stands she is unable to do so currently.
Dr Webster confirmed it had been her desire since being elected in 2019 to have an office in the town as she reponded to scruitiny about an empty office space in Horsham that had her advertising covering the front.
The building drew attention from a media outlet because inside it was completely empty and one political marketing expert, Andrew Hughes, claimed the office was in breach of the funding rules.
Dr Webster is allowed $24,000 each financial year to run a satellite office due to her electorate size.
She said of all of the issues she was advocating for on behalf of 160,000 people in Mallee, she was amazed there was a focus on the Horsham office, and besides the one reporter, she had had not had one person in the electorate complain about the matter.
"The satellite office funding is not adequate or available to do so," Dr Webster said.
"My hope is to fully operate an office in Horsham when that funding becomes available.
"I also told (the reporter) I was more than happy to put a table and chairs in there as that is all I can do, to meet people there."
Dr Webster said she had also spoken with the Shadow Special Minister of State about the inadequacy of the satellite office budget.
"I am aware the Senate has investigated the adequacy of satellite office funding," Dr Webster added.
"Mallee is the largest electorate in Victoria, covering one third of the state’s land mass.
"The southern part of Mallee deserves better resourcing to access their federal member."