Ms Kealy will be the shadow minister for consumer affairs, mental health and senior Victorians.

“It’s a great honour and a privilege to serve in the shadow cabinet,” she said.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity and a compliment to my experience and my working history.

“It also reflects also some of the issues we have got in the region with an ageing demographic and some of the challenges in relation to barriers to access to mental health services.”

Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe previously held the shadow consumer affairs portfolio and Nationals Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull held mental health and senior Victorians. 

Ms Kealy did not hold a portfolio in the previous shadow ministry.

“It’s exciting to have a seat at the table for policy making in the lead up to the next election and my priority will always be to the Lowan electorate,” Ms Kealy said.

“To be able to have that influence at the senior level is hopefully going to lead to benefits for local people.”

Mr Northe announced he had given up his portfolios to focus on his electorate.

“I’ll be getting a handover from Mr Northe and Mr Bull. Mr North has done a fantastic job in shadow cabinet and as a minister in the previous government,” Ms Kealy said. 

Ms Kealy said she would continue the work the two shadow ministers had performed in their roles and would hold the state government to account.

The first shadow cabinet meeting will be on Monday.

“It is daunting to think about your first meeting in that forum because there are so many intelligent people who have got a lot of experience under their belt,” she said.

“The Liberal-National Coalition is a strong team and I know they’’ll support me.

“I hope I can add some value and make sure that we have a strong platform to take to the election in 2018.”