Darren Chester
Darren Jeffrey Chester (born 13 September 1967) is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives for Gippsland in Victoria, representing the Nationals since 2008. Chester has served as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC, and the Minister for Defence Personnel since 5 March 2018, following a rearrangement of the second Turnbull Ministry.[2]
Chester served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence in the Abbott ministry from September 2013 to September 2015.[3] In the Turnbull Government he was appointed Assistant Minister for Defence from 21 September 2015;[4] and between 18 February 2016 and 20 December 2017, Chester served as the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport following a rearrangement in the First Turnbull Ministry.[5][6] He briefly served in the Second Turnbull Ministry as the acting Minister for Regional Development and as the acting Minister for Local Government and Territories between October and December 2017, following the resignation of Fiona Nash.[7]
Chester was viewed as a potential candidate to replace Barnaby Joyce as National Party leader in February 2018; however he chose not to contest the election.[8]
Career
Chester was born in Sale, Victoria, the son of a plumber, and was one of five children.[1]
Prior to entering federal politics, he worked as a newspaper and television journalist throughout Gippsland and was chief of staff to Peter Ryan, the leader of the Nationals in the Victorian state parliament. Chester contested Gippsland East as the National Party candidate at the 2002 Victorian state election, losing to independent Craig Ingram.[9] In 2004, he unsuccessfully stood for National Party preselection for the Senate position held by Julian McGauran. McGauran retained his party endorsement and was re-elected later that year, only to defect to the Liberals in 2006.[10]
Chester was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2008 by-election caused by the resignation of Peter McGauran, and re-elected at the 2010 and 2013 elections.
He was appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Regional Transport in September 2010;[11] and appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence in September 2013.[3]
In June 2015 he became the first member of the National Party to announce support for same-sex marriage and a conscience vote on the issue for members of the Coalition.[12]
Personal
Chester lives in Lakes Entrance with his wife, Julie,[13] and their four children, Morgan, Jamieson, Clancy and Lachlan.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Chester, Darren (26 August 2008). "First Speech to Parliament" (PDF). Hansard: House of Representatives. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
- ↑ Turnbull, Malcolm (1 March 2018). "Changes to the Ministry" (Press release). Government of Australia. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
The Hon Darren Chester MP will return to the Ministry as Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister Assisting for the Centenary of ANZAC.
- 1 2 "Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
- ↑ "Parliament of Australia website for Darren Chester". Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ↑ Massola, James (13 February 2016). "Cabinet reshuffle: Malcolm Turnbull announces new frontbench as Mal Brough resigns". The Age. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ↑ "Ministerial Swearing-in Ceremony". Events. Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ↑ Turnbull, Malcolm (19 December 2017). "Ministerial Arrangements" (Press release). Government of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
I take this opportunity to thank Darren Chester for his significant contributions to the Cabinet as the outgoing Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. I know that we will all continue to call on his wisdom and experience.
- ↑ McIlroy, Tom (23 February 2018). "Nationals leadership: who could replace Barnaby Joyce?". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
- ↑ "Gippsland East District". State Election 2002. Victorian Electoral Commission. 2002.
- ↑ Wright, Tony (28 June 2008). "Timely political payback by McGauran?". The Age.
- ↑ Parliament House Library Archived 17 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Darren Chester first National MP to announce support for same-sex marriage". ABC News. Australia. 9 June 2015.
- ↑ "About Darren Chester". Darren Chester MP. Darren Chester. 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
External links
- Parliamentary biography
- First Speech to Parliament – Google Video
- First Speech to Parliament – Text
- Search or browse Hansard for Darren Chester at OpenAustralia.org
| Parliament of Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Peter McGauran |
Member for Gippsland 2008–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Michael McCormack |
Minister for Veterans' Affairs 2018–present |
Incumbent |
| Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC 2018–present | ||
| Minister for Defence Personnel 2018–present | ||
| Preceded by Warren Truss as Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development |
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport 2016–2017 |
Succeeded by Barnaby Joyce |
| Preceded by Stuart Robert |
Assistant Minister for Defence 2015–2016 |
Succeeded by Michael McCormack |
Prime Minister: Tony Abbott | ||
| Cabinet |  | |
| Outer Ministry | ||
| Parliamentary Secretaries | ||
| Dismissed/resigned | ||
Prime Minister: Malcolm Turnbull | ||
| Cabinet |  | |
| Outer Ministry | ||
| Assistant Ministers | ||
| Resigned | ||