Vic Nats Outlook Autumn 2025

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NATIONALS OUTLOOK

The Nationals represent people who live and work in regional Victoria. Two great strengths of the Party are our membership and democratic processes. No other political party involves its membership so broadly.

Local branches have long provided avenues for any member to have a voice and make a real contribution. All members have opportunities to bring in new ideas, vote in pre-selections and get involved in election campaigns to support their local candidate.

2025 STATE CONFERENCE

The next Nationals State Conference in 2025 will be held at Wodonga.

THE NATIONALS VICTORIA HEAD OFFICE To contact, please call: 03 9600 1424

State Director Lyndel Feery

Assistant

Finance

Finance

Media and Communications

Jo Armstrong STATE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

WELCOME TO 2025 – IT’S BEEN A HUGE START TO THE YEAR ALREADY, WITH A STORM OF SMOKE, ASH, DUST AND DRY LIGHTNING HAPPENING AROUND ME AS ONGOING BUSHFIRES HURT AND CHALLENGE COUNTRY VICTORIA.

Every day of the last seven weeks I have been thankful for the phenomenal effort of country Victorians fighting fires. I take my hat off to Emma Kealy, Member for Lowan, who is unstinting in her advocacy for the volunteers, families and businesses impacted while her electorate continues to burn.

The Allan Labor government takes country Victorian resilience and considerable voluntary effort for granted. The new Emergency Service and Volunteer Fund is a red-hot topic across the state, and a case in point. This inequitable double-take from property owners who already volunteer their time and equipment to defend lives, property and community assets adds to an already long list of concerns that discriminates against those of us who don’t live in Melbourne.

The Nationals is the only party that exists to give regional Victorians a voice in parliament, and I ask of all members – when you’re talking with someone who shares your concerns, please ask them if they will join The Nationals?

We have 100 days to make history in Bendigo! This is the year we can return The Nationals to the Australian government, and we celebrated our excellent Bendigo candidate Andrew Lethlean’s campaign launch with over 300 people attending the milestone event for our Party.

It was terrific having the Hon. David Littleproud MP and Senator Perin Davey in Victoria to join the great effort of our Victorian Nationals supporting Andrew in a Bendigo ‘blitz’ of doorknocking, pamphlet sharing and making the most of media opportunities. Our whole federal team of Senator the Hon. Bridget McKenzie, the Hon. Darren Chester, Anne Webster and Sam Birrell turned out, along with new state leader Danny O’Brien, Melina Bath, Tim McCurdy, Gaelle Broad, Jade Benham, Kim O’Keeffe, Martin Cameron and the Hon. Peter Walsh.

It was fitting that at the Bendigo campaign launch, Peter Walsh’s extraordinary ten years of Victorian state leadership was acknowledged by the federal leader. David highlighted Peter’s significant dedication in leading our team of community champions to achieve our Party’s best state election result in almost eighty years.

I would like to reiterate on behalf of all our Party members, my sincere thanks to Peter for his legacy of inspirational leadership, his steadfast voice for regional Victoria, and his unwavering ongoing contribution as Member for Murray Plains.

It takes ‘people power’ and money to win elections, and we welcome vital assistance from members and supporters to strengthen our grassroots effort. Donations are gratefully received and can be made online via our Nationals Victoria website, or by contacting The Nationals Victoria Head Office. We’d also love to have you indicate your availability to help with feet on the ground support handing out how-to-vote cards on election day or at a pre-poll location.

Growing our membership is vital to our sustainability and great work is being done by our Membership Subcommittee. The membership survey has been sent to your recorded email address (please check your spam folder), and the member-get-member promotion is a highlight of this edition of Outlook.

We continue to progress our strategic goals for the Party, and I look forward to the Audit & Risk Committee’s inaugural meeting in coming weeks. I’m sure the combined skills and experience of independent auditors – Jenny Hammett, Paul Harms, and Paul Andrews – will benefit our Party enormously.

It is currently AGM season when our District Councils meet to appoint not only the traditional office-bearers but importantly, Fundraising Officers and Membership Officers. Whilst we all have a role to play to strengthen our Party, it is a huge help to have local members willing to take on overseeing local growth and I thank those of you who have accepted these roles as our Party continues to build ‘people power’ to support our goal to win and maintain government.

And last but not least, a very important element of membership is the forming of motions at grassroots level to come to this year’s State Conference. I look forward to seeing many of you take up the opportunity to inform The Nationals’ state and federal policy in Wodonga on 30-31 May 2025!

Danny O’Brien MP STATE LEADER’S REPORT

IT’S AN ENORMOUS HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE ELECTED LEADER OF THE NATIONALS IN VICTORIA AS WE FORGE AHEAD TOWARDS THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER NEXT YEAR.

Since I joined The Nationals 22 years ago, my focus on regional and rural Victorians hasn’t wavered – just as the voice of our great party hasn’t wavered in more than a century of representation. Our team will continue to give you a voice.

That voice will echo from Mildura to Mallacoota and from Dartmoor to Dartmouth.

The Nationals will continue to hold the Allan Labor Government to account on cost-of-living, soaring energy prices, the availability of housing, access to our health system and, of course, the horrendous state of our roads.

Our commitment to standing up for regional communities remains as strong as ever, and our determination to ensure that regional Victoria gets its

fair share is something that drives us every day.

Regional Victoria is facing significant challenges, many of which have been made worse by the neglect of the Allan Labor Government.

For more than a decade, Labor has failed to deliver adequate funding and support for our communities, leaving regional Victorians to struggle with inadequate infrastructure, poor healthcare services and unaffordable housing.

We now have a new-look Shadow Cabinet where The Nationals are front and centre in key roles.

It is a united team ready to win government and make a difference.

I am continuing my role as Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, while also taking on the Emergency Services portfolio.

I will also take on the Regional Development portfolio, which has been expanded to include regional liveability, recognising that our regions don’t just need jobs and a strong economy, but the facilities, services and opportunities that make our communities great places to live.

It is great to have Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, as our deputy as we step up the fight to win government in under two years.

Emma remains our Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Mental Health, working for better support for our farmers and for mental health services, which are critical to the wellbeing of regional communities.

Tim Bull, our Member for Gippsland East, is Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs, as well as Disability, Ageing, and Carers – with the added responsibility of Volunteers.

Tim retains the Shadow Racing Minister brief as well. Our Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, retains the portfolios of Water and Consumer Affairs with a focus on improving rental affordability and availability, while also adding Gaming and Liquor.

Melina Bath, our Member for Eastern Victoria Region, is Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and also Public Land Management.

The creation of the Public Land Management portfolio is a line-in-the-sand moment and something that deserves a little more explanation.

For too long in Victoria, Labor has treated public land, including state forests and national parks, as political pawns rather than an environment that needs to be managed.

Victoria has some of the world’s most stunning landscapes, but too often it is neglected, locked away from public access, full of weeds and feral animals and a fire risk waiting to explode.

The Nationals will actively manage our public land for better environmental and recreational outcomes.

In addition, The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, remains the Shadow Assistant Minister for Health.

Martin Cameron, our Member for Morwell, is Shadow Assistant Minister for both Energy Affordability and Small Business.

Kim O’Keeffe, our Member for Shepparton, remains Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Multicultural Affairs.

Jade Benham, our Member for Mildura, has taken my position on the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee as we continue to hold the Allan Labor Government to account.

As Leader of The Nationals, I will continue to fight for a fairer, brighter future for regional Victorians.

We’re beyond the halfway mark of the Labor’s fouryear term. As a united team, we’re determined to win government next year.

AS

WE

REFLECT

THANK YOU PETER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP

ON THE REMARKABLE LEADERSHIP OF THE HON. PETER

WALSH MP, MEMBER FOR MURRAY PLAINS, WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR

HIS

SERVICE AS STATE LEADER OF THE NATIONALS VICTORIA OVER THE PAST DECADE.

Peter’s tenure has been defined by unwavering dedication, principled advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to regional Victoria. Under his leadership, our Party has consistently championed the issues that matter most to our communities, ensuring vital infrastructure investments, supporting farmers, small businesses, and families, and advocating for the voices of regional Victorians.

Peter’s ability to navigate challenges and bring people together has not only strengthened our Party but also the broader regional community. His leadership culminated in 2022 with the most outstanding election result in almost eight decades, a success that saw The Nationals regain three independent seats and five new MPs added to the State Parliamentary team from all over Victoria.

Peter’s extraordinary fundraising efforts also deserve special mention, as they played a crucial role in ensuring the Party’s continued growth and success. His tireless work ethic and pragmatic approach have set a high standard for all of us.

As he steps back from the leadership role, we acknowledge the profound legacy Peter leaves behind. His vision and service have left an indelible mark on The Nationals and regional Victoria. We look forward to continuing to work alongside him as a valued member of our team and as a champion for the Murray Plains community. Thank you, Peter, for your remarkable leadership and service.

Senator the Hon. Bridget McKenzie FEDERAL REPORT

WE OFTEN HEAR THAT ELECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT. WELL, THIS TIME IS NO DIFFERENT AS WE SEE THIS ONE BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IN MANY DECADES AND OUR PARTY IN VICTORIA HAS A CHANCE TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE.

By re-electing our great Victorian team of regional champions Darren Chester (Gippsland), Anne Webster (Mallee) and Sam Birrell (Nicholls) and supporting Andrew Lethlean in Bendigo we can get Australia Back on Track.

Andrew’s issues are the same as every Australiancost of living, crime, housing and rising energy costs.

The Bendigo electorate has missed out under state and federal Labor governments which are distracted by the wrong priorities, such as the divisive $450 million Voice referendum. The community is suffering

gets his community. So, whether it be putting up a corflute, door knocking, phone canvassing or handing out at pre poll or election day, we need your help to oust this disastrous Labor government.

In Parliament we have been prosecuting the Albanese Government and at every juncture whether it be cost of living, national security or health care, they continue to fail.

The Labor government has neglected essential infrastructure, particularly roads in regional areas, and now another regional airline, Regional Express (Rex),

The Coalition on the other hand has a plan to address housing, support small business and build a stronger economy. Our Housing Plan will invest $5 billion in enabling infrastructure to unlock up to 500,000 new homes, 30 per cent of which will be in regional, rural and remote Australia, keeping the Australian dream of home ownership alive.

The Nationals have been strong on energy and advocating for nuclear and gas to be part of our energy mix to deliver cheap, clean and reliable energy. The creation of integrated economic zones will attract and support manufacturing and high-tech industries to grow and remain sustainable.

We have stood up to the supermarket giants and will impose divestiture powers to address anti-competitive behaviour that drives up food prices putting pressure on household budgets and farmers bottom lines.

Like many regional industries, our vital transport sector is experiencing a workforce shortage. There is a great opportunity for more women as truckies, helping to move our fresh produce to market. Since becoming Shadow Minister for Transport, I was determined to get my truck licence and encourage other women to consider a career in this rewarding industry and now I have.

This election is our chance to bring real change and ensure a better future for all Australians. With your support, we can elect strong leadership that prioritizes regional communities, tackles rising costs, and invests in essential infrastructure. If you would like a copy of our ‘Let’s Get Australia Back on Track’ Priority Document please reach out to the staff in my office or send me an email senator.mckenzie@aph.gov.au

BENDIGO CAMPAIGN UPDATE

WHILE WE COUNT DOWN TO THE ELECTION, THE NATIONALS ARE RAMPING UP EFFORTS TO RETURN THE COALITION TO GOVERNMENT, WITH BENDIGO AT THE FOREFRONT.

Led by our exceptional candidate Andrew Lethlean, the campaign is gaining momentum, thanks to the hard work of local members and MPs who have been actively engaging with the community.

The Bendigo campaign office is fully operational, staffed four days a week by dedicated volunteers, with a full-time staff member now supporting Andrew’s day-to-day efforts. Over 100 large and 50 small corflutes have been strategically placed across the electorate to raise visibility and show Bendigo locals that Andrew and The Nationals are serious about flipping the seat.

Since mid-January, our advertising strategy has ramped up, with radio, social media, online ads, and billboards building the brand of Andrew and The Nationals. To our Bendigo residents, we apologise in advance – Andrew will be everywhere!

The message is clear: The Nationals are committed to representing regional Australians, and Bendigo now has a strong alternative to the current Labor representative. A key milestone was Andrew’s official campaign launch, with over 300 people attending to celebrate.

We were joined by the Hon. David Littleproud MP, The Leader of The Nationals, to officially launch Andrew’s campaign in front of 300 of his friends and Bendigo locals who support Andrew in his movement for change.

As we approach the final stretch, your support is more important than ever. To win this seat every contribution counts, and we need donations and volunteers to give Andrew the best chance. Please get in contact with Head Office to donate or volunteer your time. Let’s make history in Bendigo and bring real change to regional Australia.

THANK YOU SENATOR JACINTA NAMPIJINPA PRICE FOR SUPPORTING ANDREW LETHLEAN IN BENDIGO AND SAM BIRRELL IN SHEPPARTON FOR A NUMBER OF MEMBER AND COMMUNITY FORUMS, IN THE LEADUP TO THE FEDERAL ELECTION

A CENTURY OF COMMITMENT - SHIRLEY HILL

AT THE REMARKABLE AGE OF 100, SHIRLEY HILL HAS SEEN MORE CHANGE IN REGIONAL VICTORIA THAN MOST.

Having first voted for The Nationals during the Second World War, we spoke to her about her life in politics and reflections on a century supporting The National Party.

When asked what inspired her to support our Party and to later become a member, she noted how motivated she was by Sir Herbert Hyland, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Gippsland South from 1929 until his passing in 1970, and how he played a significant role in shaping her beliefs.

Shirley joined The National Party in 1949, at the age of twenty-five. That same year, Shirley married her husband, Douglas Hill, whom to her remarkable discovery she later learned was a grandson of William Caldwell Hill, a founding President of the Victoria Farmers Union, later to become the Country Party.

Over the decades, Shirley has admired the calibre of people representing our Party, fondly recalling figures like Peter Nixon, Ian Sinclair, and Doug Anthony, who she describes as “great characters.” She values the way candidates are nominated and the vital role of local branches, which she believes have always maintained high standards. Leaders such as Tom Wallace, Bert May, Peter McGauran and Peter Hall stand out in her memory as committed and principled representatives.

In more recent years, she remains convinced that the legacies of the past are being respected and built upon by the next generation of political leaders in The Nationals, mentioning Danny O’Brien, Darren Chester, Melina Bath and Tim Bull as politicians of high standing in her mind.

While Shirley acknowledges that politics has changed, she believes it was once a more collegial environment. “People got on better back then,” she says. “Now there are too many silly arguments, and they’re not getting anywhere.” She laments what she sees as a growing influence of unions in decision-making and a shift towards policies that prioritise “less work, more money.”

Shirley has always been an active member of her local branch, rarely missing a meeting and helping raise

funds for candidates. “That has never diminished,” she insists. “The only motive is to serve the country.” However, she worries about the impact of modern political decisions on regional Australia, arguing that industries and towns have been “wrecked” as a result.

For Shirley, good governance should mirror the principles of running a household. “You can’t give your children everything,” she says, advocating for responsible spending and balanced priorities. She also believes the government should have taken stronger action on social issues like drug use when problems first arose.

When asked what she would do if she were Prime Minister, Shirley is clear: “Nip things in the bud— tackle knives, drugs, crime, and introduce more severe penalties.”

Throughout her life, Shirley has been supported by her family in her political convictions. She recalls how Labor’s dominance of the local newspaper meant that National Party stories were often ignored, but she wasn’t afraid to challenge that. “I called him up once,” she says with a chuckle, proving that even at 100, she still has the fire to stand up for what she believes in.

Shirley Hill’s century-long commitment to politics is a testament to her unwavering belief in the importance of service, community, and strong leadership. As she reflects on a life well-lived, her passion for the future of regional Australia remains as strong as ever.

On behalf of everyone at The National Victoria, we want to thank Shirley for her lifetime of support and dedication to our party, and wish her continued health into the future.

Emma Williamson WOMEN’S EXECUTIVE REPORT

WELCOME TO 2025, ON BEHALF OF MEREE BATH (SOUTHEAST) , ABBIE WILSON (SOUTHWEST) AND MELODY STEED (NORTHWEST) AND MYSELF (NORTHEAST).

We will have a busy few months ahead with the Federal Election due in the first half of this year. The Women’s Executive encourages you to support our Federal Candidates to win the election and make it a Coalition government.

In 2019 / 2020, The Victorian Nationals, established “The Isobel Project” to give female leaders an opportunity to better understand the political process, whether it be holding an executive position at AEDC, FEDC, State Council or in a more formal role such as Executive or a candidate. I was fortunate to participate in this inaugural group, and learnt so much, to assist me in my roles within the party, although our program was cut short by the Covid 19 pandemic.

The Women’s Executive is looking to re-establish this project and are working with Head Office to develop timelines. It is a great initiative to get women actively involved and supported in the Party.

Congratulations to Melody and her husband Andrew on the birth of their baby girl Felicity Joy on 3/2/25

We look forward to catching up with many of you at the 2025 State Conference in Wodonga over the weekend of 30 May - 1st June.

Nuclear energy is heating up in Australia’s energy debate, and women are leading the charge!

You can watch Senator Bridget McKenzie dive into the topic with Jaz Diab who is impressively the President of Women in Nuclear - Australia, Partner/Managing Director at Global Nuclear Security Partners, member of Australian Nuclear Association; Engineers Australia; and Women in Nuclear Global. Jaz also holds a Masters in Engineer Science (Nuclear Engineering) and is a former Commanding Officer of the Australian Special Operations Engineer Regiment.

Scan the QR code to watch the interview.

The Hon. Darren Chester MP NUCLEAR ENERGY

AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF HEARING FROM EXPERTS AS PART OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SELECT COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR ENERGY, THERE WAS CLEAR SUPPORT FOR THE COALITION’S PLAN TO TAKE A BALANCED APPROACH TO MEETING OUR NATION’S FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS, WITH A MIX OF RENEWABLES AND NUCLEAR POWER.

The vast majority of Gippslanders who have contacted my office are keen to learn more about nuclear technology and there is a high level of energy literacy in our region.

Generally speaking, local people understand the energy trifecta of having a reliable and affordable energy system while meeting our environmental commitments as part of international agreements.

Our energy system on the east coast is extremely complex and relies heavily on existing coal-fired power stations. As these stations retire, the challenge of meeting the increased demand with replacement forms of energy generation will require huge financial investments and careful planning based on science and engineering, not politics.

Australians are interested in a facts-based discussion, not another scare campaign. Labor MPs making childish references to ‘The Simpsons’ and threeeyed fish have no relevance in the mature debate our nation needs.

The experts have told us, there’s no comparable country in the world which is moving to a 100% weather dependent system of energy generation because there are days when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.

We need to be adopting a more balanced approach to meet our future energy needs.

A mix of zero emissions nuclear technology and large scale renewables is the preferred approach around the world to managing the transition away from fossil fuels over the next 25 years.

Including nuclear energy in our future energy mix will dramatically reduce the footprint of large scale wind, solar and storage facilities on rural land and reduce the need for new transmission lines.

Firming of solar and wind energy sources means there is less need to over-build capacity and the entire system can operate at a cheaper average cost to consumers.

The Select Committee was told in hearings from two of the United States leading experts (Professor Jacobo Buongiorno and Professor Andrew Whittaker) that re-purposing redundant coal-fired power station sites is the ‘ideal’ approach to developing nuclear energy in Australia.

The witnesses made it clear that Australia already has the capacity to build a large portion of the infrastructure needed to house a nuclear facility and the engineering was well advanced to overcome seismic activity and other major events throughout the world.

Re-using existing transmission lines was recognised as a cost-effective measure and having a portion of nuclear energy in the mix would firm up our energy supplies and reduce the average cost to customers over an extended period of time, compared to a renewables-only approach.

In short, adopting a balanced approach with a mix of zero emissions nuclear energy and large-scale renewables will be cheaper in the long run, and better for the environment.

The facts we are uncovering as part of the committee’s work are exposing some of the scare campaigns which have been used to support the current moratorium on nuclear energy.

Energy security is a matter of national security: every country needs to be able to keep the lights on, run the public transport network, hospitals and universities, and ensure businesses and farmers can still produce goods at a competitive price, which are needed in a modern society.

All of our major trading partners have nuclear in their energy mix and we already have a small but highly capable nuclear capability in Australia associated with the Lucas Heights reactors which have operated safely for decades just 30 kilometres from the Sydney CBD.

We are also moving towards nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement which will require the development of a civilian nuclear-trained workforce to sustain the defence capability over its lifespan.

Interestingly, the committee has been told repeatedly that most workers in coal-fired power stations like the Latrobe Valley, could be re-trained to high-paying jobs in the nuclear energy sector.

There are 32 countries in the world which currently have nuclear power and more than 50 countries are looking at including the next generation nuclear technology in their energy mix for the first time.

If we win the next election, the Coalition’s plan is to undertake a full site assessment and community consultation process for more than two years to assess the most viable sites going forward.

I’m not an expert and I am keeping an open mind about our region’s suitability to hosting a nuclear power station as existing coal-fired assets reach the end of their useful lives.

But I have made it very clear in all conversations with my colleagues that I would expect to see a significant investment in the region’s facilities and services, on top of the jobs that would be created.

If we are going to host both large-scale nuclear and renewable energy infrastructure in the future, there has to be respect shown to local communities and measurable benefits for our region.

108TH STATE CONFERENCE

WODONGA 30 - 31 MAY 2025

JOIN US FOR THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL STATE CONFERENCE IN WODONGA!

After a successful first year in Bendigo last year, the Big Ideas Forum is back again on day one of conference. This year, the forum will focus on future-proofing regional Victoria with discussion on strategies to overcome the critical workforce and service shortages faced by our regions

Join policy experts, members and local business leaders on how we aim to strike the balance between information and community engagement.

Our Annual Gala Dinner will be held on Friday evening. Celebrate the fellowship of The Nationals and enjoy an address from the Federal Leader of The Nationals, followed by a Q&A panel with members of the federal parliamentary team.

REGISTRATIONS

Start your Saturday morning by attending the John McEwen Discussion Group Breakfast to discuss the biggest issues facing regional Victoria. The guest speaker will be announced closer to the date.

State Conference will then commence at 8.30am on Saturday morning.

The day will feature motion debate, addresses from the State President, Jo Armstrong and State Leader of The Victorian Nationals, Danny O’Brien MP, and the election of office bearers.

The weekend’s events will conclude with a ‘wind down’ casual dinner hosted by the Young Nationals. This event is a casual affair with the opportunity for everyone to socialise among fellow Party members.

Registrations can be completed at vicnats-stateconference.eventbrite.com or by scanning the QR code below.

Collection of registration material will be available at The Cube on Saturday morning from 7.30am before the commencment of conference.

State Conference registration must be submitted online by 5.00pm Friday 2 May. There will be no registration available on the day.

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY 30 MAY

Venue TBC Dress: Business attire

1:30pm for 2:00pm Big Ideas Forum: Future-Proofing Regional Victoria

Huon Hill Hotel, 48 Reid Street, Wodonga

Gala Dinner

6:30pm for 7pm

The Gala Dinner is a great opportunity for our members to come together and catch up with others over a delicious meal before conference.

SATURDAY 31 MAY

Wodonga RSL, 29 Reid Street, Wodonga

John McEwen Discussion Group Breakfast

Dress: Cocktail

Attended by: Leader of the Federal National Party, State Leader of The Nationals Victoria, State and Federal Members of Parliament, Ministers, and Party members from across Victoria.

Dress: Business attire

7.15am - 8.00am

Enjoy breakfast hosted by the John McEwen Discussion Group.

The Cube, 118 Hovell Street, Wodonga

7.30am Conference registration opens

8:30am Conference commences

8:50am State President’s address

10:10am Morning tea

10:45am State Leader’s address

12:30pm Lunch

2:15pm Afternoon tea

3:00pm Executive elections

5:00pm Conference concludes

Dress: Business attire

Please note, program is intermittent with motion debate and subject to change.

Huon Hill Hotel, 48 Reid Street, Wodonga

Post conference casual dinner

6.30pm

For those interested in staying in Wodonga following the conference please join us for a post conference ‘wind down’ dinner and drinks hosted by the Young Nationals.

Dress: Smart casual

MEMBER GET MEMBER PROMOTION

BEING A MEMBER OF THE NATIONALS MEANS STANDING UP FOR REGIONAL VICTORIA—BUT TO MAKE A REAL IMPACT, WE NEED TO GROW OUR TEAM. THAT’S WHERE YOU COME IN.

We are the heart and soul of regional Victoria. We cherish the unique lifestyle that our regions offer, from welcoming townships to breathtaking landscapes. As our communities grow and evolve, The Nationals work to represent the everyday people who call regional Victoria their home, ensuring their voices are heard and their values protected.

That’s why we’re launching the 2025 Member Get Member promotion. We need more voices, more advocates, and more passionate locals who believe in our cause.

By signing up a new member, both you and your recruit will go into the draw to win lunch at Parliament House with Danny O’Brien MP.

To ensure your name is entered into the promotion, please remind new members to complete the question: “Were you referred by a current member of The Nationals Victoria? If so, please state their name.”

The winner will be drawn at our State Conference on Saturday, 31st May 2025 - but the real prize is building a stronger, united Nationals team that truly represents regional Victoria.

REFER A FRIEND & ENTER THE DRAW MEMBER

DANNY O’BRIEN

MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND SOUTH

State Leader of The Nationals

Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety

Shadow Minister for Emergency Services

Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Liveability

MELINA BATH

MEMBER FOR EASTERN VICTORIA REGION

Leader of The Nationals in the Legislative Council

Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

Shadow Minister for Public Land Management

MARTIN CAMERON

MEMBER FOR MORWELL

Shadow Assistant Minister for Energy Affordability

Shadow Assistant Minister for Small Business

TIM McCURDY

MEMBER FOR OVENS VALLEY

Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs

Shadow Minister for Water

Shadow Minister for Gaming and Liquor

JADE BENHAM

MEMBER FOR MILDURA Nationals Whip

STATE PARLIAMENTARY TEAM FEDERAL

PETER WALSH

MEMBER FOR MURRAY PLAINS

EMMA KEALY

MEMBER FOR LOWAN

Deputy Leader of The Nationals

Shadow Minister for Agriculture

Shadow Minister for Mental Health

TIM BULL

MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND EAST

Shadow Minister for Disability, Ageing, Carers and Volunteers

Shadow Minister for Racing

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

ANNABELLE CLEELAND

MEMBER FOR EUROA

Shadow Assistant Minister for Health

KIM O’KEEFFE

MEMBER FOR SHEPPARTON

Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Multicultural Affairs

GAELLE BROAD MEMBER FOR NORTHERN VICTORIA REGION

BRIDGET McKENZIE

SENATOR FOR VICTORIA

Leader of The Nationals in the Senate

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development

ANNE WEBSTER

MEMBER FOR MALLEE

Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health

DARREN CHESTER

MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND

Shadow Minister for Regional Education

Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories

SAM BIRRELL

MEMBER FOR NICHOLLS

Deputy Nationals Whip

THE NATIONALS VICTORIA PARTY MEMBERSHIP

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