If the changes are brought in as proposed, Stawell would change from having Nationals MP Andrew Broad as the presumed incumbent for the next federal election.

Stawell and many Northern Grampians Shire residents at Halls Gap and Mount Dryden would instead have Liberal MP and Social Services Minister Dan Tehan as their incumbent candidate.

Part of Golden Plains Shire and more of the seat of Corangamite in Colac Otway Shire would also join Wannon, increasing the electoral roll by 14,918 voters.

Mallee would gain thousands of people from Loddon Shire, Central Goldfields and northern parts of Pyrenees Shire, including Avoca.

The AEC appears to have discarded a Liberal Party suggestion to move Horsham into Wannon and abolish the north-central Victorian seat of Murray.

Mr Broad said he would abide by the AEC’s pending final decision and would keep advocating for all areas of his electorate.

“You abide by the rules. My view is that you continue to serve the people who voted for me at the last election, and that includes Stawell and Halls Gap, whilst I am still their federal member up until the next election...if that’s how the boundaries work out,” he said.

“I’m still there to do the job for them. I’m not going to knock off and say ‘well, you can’t vote for me at the next election’.

“I’m not that sort of person. I’m still there to get the best outcomes for Stawell.”

Mr Broad said he might have to “brush up” on Maryborough and some other new areas but he had strong ties to some of the places that the AEC has proposed to add to Mallee.

“My farm is in Loddon Shire, my uncle used to be the mayor. My grandparents are buried at the Pyramid Hill Cemetery,” Mr Broad said.

”I think I have got pretty strong ties to Loddon, so that’s a natural fit.”

Mr Broad welcomed the indication that the AEC would not support abolishing the seat of Murray, currently held by the Nationals, which will instead likely be renamed ‘Nicholls’.

“We don’t want less country representation, in fact, we would like more,” he said.

“I’m pleased to see Murray will remain with a very good member in Damian Drum.

“I would like to see country areas get country representation rather than get the overflow of Melbourne.”