Nationals MP Anne Webster drops request for protection orders against One Nation supporter
National Party MP Anne Webster and her husband Philip Webster have dropped a request for personal safety intervention orders against a One Nation supporter after an altercation at a Mildura car show.
The Mildura Magistrate's Court put interim orders in place in April barring One Nation supporter Dean Lampard from contacting or approaching the Websters until Mr Lampard could obtain a lawyer.
On Friday, the Victorian Solicitor General's Office dropped the application, saying it was unlikely to be approved.
Magistrate Patrick Southey told the court Mr Lampard had made "nonsense" allegations against the Websters of corruption and paedophilia.
"[They] were offensive, defamatory, crackpot, conspiracy theory allegations that hold no basis whatsoever," Magistrate Patrick Southey told the court.
"If there was any shred of truth, [Anne Webster] wouldn't be a Member of Parliament and [Philip Webster] wouldn't be a doctor."
Mr Lampard's lawyer Jamie Griffin said there was no evidence to suggest Mr Lampard's allegations against the Websters were "crackpot" or "conspiracy theory'.
The court heard Mr Lampard made the accusations against the Websters when he went to Anne Webster's Mildura office on March 1.
The court heard on that occasion, she did not like what was said by Mr Lampard and asked him to leave.
Six weeks later, on Good Friday, Dr Webster's husband approached Mr Lampard at a car show with two of her staff and a security guard.
Mr Griffin previously told the court there was "a conversation and pushing and shoving", with Mr Webster shoving Mr Lampard.
He said there were no allegations of assault or threats by his client at the car show, and that he left of his own accord.
"How can it be said that Mr Webster has any fear at all when he approaches my client, assaults my client, and my client leaves?" he asked the court.
The court heard Mr Griffin contested the legitimacy of the interim orders that he described as baseless and without proof of criminal conduct.
Mr Griffin told the court he found it questionable that a senior detective at Mildura Police Station brought the application to court in the first place.
"It's exceptional that a matter like this, first of all, is prosecuted by a senior detective where there is no crime alleged here," Mr Griffin told the court.
"The base of the claim is that there is a chance Mr Lampard may, in the future, make some other comment or approach Ms Webster."
The media was denied a copy of the affidavit supporting the allegations made by the Websters against Mr Lampard because "it was protected information".
Magistrate Southey told the court he believed the application for the interim orders had been made in good faith, despite them being withdrawn.
"Is that largely because it's unlikely you can prove there is an ongoing likelihood of misbehaviour, is that the reason?" Magistrate Patrick Southey asked the lawyer for the Websters.
Solicitor for the government, Nadia Deltondo, replied, "There are a number of reasons that unfortunately I can't answer."
An application to have the Websters pay Mr Lampard's court costs was refused.
Dr Webster retained the seat of Mallee in the May election with a slight swing toward her, in what is considered a safe seat.
She was elevated three weeks ago to shadow minister for regional development, local government and territories and shadow minister for regional communications.
The Websters were not in court for Friday's hearing.
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