1300 131 785 darren.chester.mp@aph.gov.au

BUSHFIRE FUND ‘RIP OFF’ MAY BE AVOIDED

The Federal Government is backing away from a plan which would have short-changed bushfire impacted communities in East Gippsland, according to local MP Darren Chester. Mr Chester said he had received a letter from Emergency Management Minister Bridget McKenzie...
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TRARALGON BYPASS PLANNING CRITICAL

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says it’s critical the Andrews Government accelerates the consultation process for the final planning and design of the long-awaited Traralgon bypass. Mr Chester said local residents and the broader Gippsland community...
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GIPPSLAND SHARES IN FEDERAL HYDROGEN HUB CASH

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says the Latrobe Valley’s role as a critical energy generator will be boosted by the decision to include the region as one of seven hydrogen hubs in Australia. The Federal Government’s $1.2 billion hydrogen investment is set...
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2022 #LOVEGIPPSLAND CALENDAR COMPETITION OPEN

Local MP Darren Chester is encouraging Gippslanders to enter their best photographs in the 2022 #lovegippsland calendar competition. Mr Chester said the competition was now open and the winning photos would be featured in the annual calendar. “I love Gippsland and...
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FUNDING FOR SOIL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Funding is available to improve soil management practices through the Federal Government’s Smart Farms Small Grants: Soil Extension Activities program. Local MP Darren Chester said local organisations and individuals can apply for grants of up to $250,000 to undertake...
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LAKES ENTRANCE LOOKING A MILLION DOLLARS

The multi-million dollar upgrade of The Esplanade in Lakes Entrance is continuing with the latest section of footpath being installed. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester secured funding for the work in 2016 and says the transformation will save lives, improve...
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AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT STEPPING UP FOR GIPPSLAND FARMERS

The Coalition Government is bolstering support for farmers in East Gippsland and Wellington through the On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme. Member for Gippsland Darren Chester welcomed the announcement that the Australian and Victorian governments...
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CORONAVIRUS: DECISIONS AND CONSEQUENCES

Life is full of risks… and decisions we make, always have consequences. I offer that simple statement as a reminder to everyone as we enter the next stage of the national plan to suppress the spread of the coronavirus, save lives, accelerate vaccination rates, restore...
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ASSISTANCE DOGS SAVING LIVES

Former Australian Federal Police (AFP) officer Dale Potter from Seaspray, is amongst the first people to receive a psychiatric trained assistance dog from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). Mr Potter, who had a distinguished career in Victoria Police and the...
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CHESTER WELCOMES OFFSHORE WIND FARM LEGISLATION

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has welcomed the introduction of legislation to develop offshore electricity infrastructure with local jobs at stake. Mr Chester said the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill introduced to Federal Parliament would...
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100% AUTHENTIC GIPPSLAND

2022 #LOVEGIPPSLAND CALENDAR COMPETITION NOW OPEN

Local MP Darren Chester is encouraging Gippslanders to enter their best photographs in the 2022 #lovegippsland calendar competition.

Mr Chester said the competition to be featured in his annual calendar was now open.

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Darren Chester MP @DarrenChesterMP
Saturday, September 25th, 2021 at 7:35pm
Take a break in Gippsland... Cape Conran near Orbost is one of my favourite places on the planet to enjoy the beach, bush & wildlife. Looking forward to welcoming our city friends back to our beautiful region soon. Hang in there Melburnians - we miss you too! #lovegippsland https://t.co/3Nu99CG4vV
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Darren Chester MP @DarrenChesterMP
Saturday, September 25th, 2021 at 8:56am
Into ‘junk time’ now but don’t let the final score devalue the contest. The Bulldogs challenged hard and Demons just too bloody good. It’s a grand old flag and the curse is over! @alexhart7 @NickMcCallum7 @jamesmassola @NealeDaniher @Jude_Bolton What a Grand Final performance
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Darren Chester MP @DarrenChesterMP
Saturday, September 25th, 2021 at 5:55am
Congratulations to @AFL for getting the 2021 footy season through to the first Grand Final in Perth. Many challenges for officials, players & staff to keep the season alive & bring so much joy to Australians dealing with pandemic. May the best team win. @XaviEllis18 @JudeDonnelly https://t.co/4O2UBURsWv
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Darren Chester MP

Official Page of The Nationals Member for Gippsland, Federal Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel. Check out Darren's personal page at https://www.facebook.com/darren.chester.524
Darren Chester MP
Darren Chester MPSunday, September 26th, 2021 at 10:50pm
Getting stuff done...

The wet winter has played havoc with bridge building works across the Genoa River but it’s good to see plenty of progress has been made.

The pedestrian bridge was burnt in the bushfires and local firm Jarvis Norwood has won the East Gippsland Shire Council contract to build the replacement. It’s a big job… critical for locals and visitors to the region as it connects the township to the camping area and recreation reserve.

As I’m travelling through the bushfire-impacted regions, it has been positive to see the visitor economy starting to come back and some major projects finished. But we really need to step up our efforts across all levels of government to complete more of the projects that have been fully funded as part of the bushfire recovery program.

We were promised by authorities that we would be ‘building back better’… here’s hoping we can step up the progress as the warmer weather arrives!

#lovegippsland
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Darren Chester MPSunday, September 26th, 2021 at 8:58am
Hard to believe it’s been 29 years... Julie is a very patient soul.

We were out and about in East Gippsland today combining a bit of work and pleasure on our wedding anniversary. I’m sure Julie never thought she would be taking photos as a volunteer media adviser when we married in 1992.

But then again, I never thought I would be a politician… so we’re even!

Our greatest achievement as a team has been our four beautiful children and we are lucky to enjoy the love and support of many friends, and our extended families.

On the work front, I’m following up on bushfire recovery projects in East Gippsland over the next couple of days and catching up with a few groups in Mallacoota which are delivering terrific local projects.

But this evening it was a sunset walk along the magnificent estuary and a chance to reset for the weeks ahead.

So many people are struggling with the combined impacts of natural disasters and the pandemic… but we are a resilient community and we live in a beautiful part of the world. Hopefully, very soon we can safely enjoy visits from our Melbourne friends and families and continue our recovery as a region.

Be kind to yourself and each other. Better days are coming!

#lovegippsland
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Darren Chester MPSunday, September 26th, 2021 at 12:45am
I can confirm a media report this morning that I’ve decided to take a break from organised meetings, events and activities in The Nationals Federal Parliamentary party room.

I will re-assess my position when Federal Parliament resumes in October.

To be clear, I continue to support the Coalition Government but want some time away from the The Nationals Federal Parliamentary party room to reflect on a number of significant issues.

My decision follows months of frustration with the repeated failure of the leadership to even attempt to moderate some of the more disrespectful and offensive views expressed by a minority of colleagues.

As I indicated at the time of the leadership spill, I remain committed to the Victorian National Party.

I entered politics to make a difference and over the past 13 years I’ve been able to work in partnership with my staff, and the people of Gippsland, to deliver transformational projects.

I intend to continue that work and will use the rest of this current break from Parliamentary sittings to travel throughout Gippsland, and completely focus on local and federal issues of concerns for my community.

The long delays in bushfire recovery and failure to deliver infrastructure projects that have already been funded is causing significant issues across Gippsland and requires my full attention. The lack of urgency amongst local, state and federal agencies has failed my region.

In the past week, I have travelled to remote parts of East Gippsland, along with Sale, Traralgon, Orbost, Loch Sport and Bairnsdale to inspect progress on works, and meet with locals. I will keep pressuring all levels of government to lift the pace of delivery to help our region as it recovers from the combined impacts of drought, bushfires, storms, flooding and the coronavirus.

I have been preselected as The Nationals candidate for the seat of Gippsland and intend to contest, and hopefully win the next election, which will be held at some point in the next 12 months.

I love Gippsland, and I’m not going anywhere.

I’m passionate about delivering outcomes for Gippsland and regional Australia, and believe I have the energy, ideas and resilience to continue playing an active role in Australian public life.

#lovegippsland
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About Darren

Darren Chester was elected to Federal Parliament as the Member for Gippsland on June 26, 2008.

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ABOUT GIPPSLAND

Gippsland is one of the most diverse regions in Australia and our community is dispersed across 33,000 square kilometres.

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