Darren Chester MP

I first met this impressive young man, Solomon Jones, a year or two ago when he was a school captain at Gippsland Grammar.
We've both changed a bit since this picture was taken, but Solomon is continuing to impress: he's now studying at ANU and was recently awarded a C.A.S Hawker Scholarship, one of the most generous privately-funded scholarships available to undergraduate and post-graduate students in Australia. The scholarship is awarded based on personal qualities, demonstrated leadership and academic ability.
Another young Gippslander making his mark on the world - congratulations Solomon! #lovegippsland

I don’t support any plan to privatise the ABC.
There’s been a lot of media speculation about privatising the ABC following a meeting of grassroots Liberal Party members in Sydney.
It’s important to note this was not a meeting where the elected Members of Parliament decide on their policy positions.

The Nationals Federal MPs, including me, are opposed to privatisation of the ABC. And without our support it couldn’t happen.
The Coalition policy is also opposed to such a move.

I regularly appear on ABC programs, recognise the critical role it plays in regional communities around emergency events and have successfully lobbied ABC management to invest more in our regions in recent years.
I would like to see the ABC management move more people in senior roles out of Sydney and Melbourne and screen more programs like Back Roads which present a positive view of regional life.

The metropolitan based coverage of many regional issues is often uninformed in all of our media and the ABC could improve its performance too.
As for the issue of political bias... I will leave that for you all to decide!
I get a fair run on Gippsland ABC - plenty of tough questions and that’s to be expected in my job.
#lovegippsland #myvalley

Wishing safe travels and all the best to our own Gippsland shooting superstar, Aislin Jones who is this week jetting off for the skeet shooting Junior World Cup in Germany.
Congratulations on all your hard work to get this far - good luck Aislin! #lovegippsland