Cathy McGowan experienced a range of emotions during 2016: the lows of being accused of involvement in voter fraud, the struggles of a hard-fought election campaign, and the highs of being re-elected for a second term in Indi.

But the height of strange events was saved for the last day of Federal Parliament.

All sides of politics were in a standoff over the backpacker tax rate until, in a move not many would have predicted, the Greens supported the Coalition’s proposal of 15 per cent to get it across the line at the last minute.

Ms McGowan said she would have also voted with the government on the 15 per cent rate, but criticised MPs for dragging out negotiations for months until a frantic last sitting day.

“That was the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen,” she told The Border Mail.

“We spent a year of really valuable community time.”

The Indi MP attributed the bizarre week to a wider problem of the Coalition not working on long-term plans.

“I think it’s really stumbling and it’s disappointing because there’s so much that needs to be done,” Ms McGowan said. “It just seems to be really short-term decision-making and that’s what really annoys people … It’s indicative of that lack of vision for the regions.”

She would not be drawn into commentary on the performance of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during 2016, but has been full of advice for the government, saying it needed better planning and more consultation - especially in rural areas.

“If they don’t heed it, they’ll be history,” she said.

The year started with Indi already in election mode, after Liberal Sophie Mirabella and the Nationals’ Marty Corboy had started their campaigns.

Ms McGowan was planning and strategising with volunteers behind the scenes, but refused to campaign publicly until her first term was officially over and the election was called.

She said the most difficult time of 2016 was the lead up to April’s court case where her niece Maggie McGowan and friend Sophie Fuchsen faced charges over alleged voter fraud, which were eventually withdrawn by the DPP. “It was a huge emotional rollercoaster,” Ms McGowan said.

“From my perspective, it had never been an issue.

“Those young people had done what the AEC guidelines told them to.”

The MP was left hurt and disappointed by the accusations and, although it was an official investigation through the legal system, she had no doubt it was launched because of her unexpected 2013 election win.

“People said ‘you have to grin and bear it Cathy, you couldn’t get away scott-free’,” she said.

One of the goals of 2017 will be to push the government to introduce a young people’s minister.

Ms McGowan made 46 speeches during 2016 including moving one motion, two private members bills and asking five questions.

She nominated having the Murray Darling Basin Authority come to Wodonga and receiving eight mobile black spot towers in the last allocation as her biggest achievements in a short seven-week sitting before the end of the year.

The Christmas break will be used to attend carols and other community events, plus plan her agenda for the next few years with new staff which changed over during the year.