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.”

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, who has a doctorate in sociology on adoption, founded the Mildura based 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 recent media 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.

Mr Broad was on a taxpayer-funded trip to Hong Kong.

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.

She said rural Australians were “fed up” with Federal Government inaction on climate and energy policy.

“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.

‘The risk factor is from the independents, not Labor,” he said.

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

‘They seem to have made a good decision to cover off against that risk, particularly after the (Andrew) Broad scandal.”

Dr Webster is based in Mildura.

She 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.

"I'm looking forward to talking to as many people as possible in Mallee over the next few months."

The Nationals Victoria Acting President Sheridan Bond said the quality of all six candidates demonstrates the strength of The Nationals.

And the party has also called for nominations for the seat of Indi.

"The Nationals are the most democratic, grassroots party in Australia,” Victorian director Matthew Harris said.

“Every eligible local member will get their chance to select our candidate.

"Unlike the Voices for Indi Political Party, with their opaque preselection process, where the community didn't even know who the candidates were, The Nationals have always believed in genuine, transparent, on the ground democracy."

Rural health researcher Helen Haines will stand as an independent for Indi, after being chosen by supporters of Ms McGowan to succeed her when she retires.

National Party nominations open today and close at 5 pm on Friday, February 1. 

Should more than one candidate nominate, a preselection will be held on Saturday, February 16.