Darren Chester
Encyclopedia
Darren Jeffrey Chester is an Australian politician. He is the National Party
member of the Australian House of Representatives
for the electoral division of Gippsland
in Victoria
. He was elected at the 2008 by-election
caused by the resignation of Peter McGauran.
Chester was born in the Victoria
n town of Sale
. He lives in Lakes Entrance
with his wife and four children.
Prior to entering federal politics, Chester 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
. In 2004, Chester 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 Liberal Party in 2006.
Chester was re-elected at the 2010 election and appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Regional Transport in September 2010.
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
member of the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
for the electoral division of Gippsland
Division of Gippsland
The Division of Gippsland is anAustralian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the Gippsland region of eastern Victoria, which in turn is named for Sir George Gipps, Governor of New South Wales...
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. He was elected at the 2008 by-election
Gippsland by-election, 2008
A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Gippsland on 28 June 2008. It was triggered by the resignation of National Party MP Peter McGauran....
caused by the resignation of Peter McGauran.
Chester was born in the Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
n town of Sale
Sale, Victoria
Sale is a city in the Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria. It is the seat of the Shire of Wellington as well as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale and the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland. It has a population of around 13,336, and is expected to reach a population of 14,000 soon...
. He lives in Lakes Entrance
Lakes Entrance, Victoria
Lakes Entrance is a tourist resort and fishing port in eastern Victoria, Australia. It is situated approximately east of Melbourne, near a managed, man-made channel connecting the Gippsland Lakes to the Bass Strait. At the 2006 census, Lakes Entrance had a population of 4,094.The township was...
with his wife and four children.
Prior to entering federal politics, Chester was chief of staff to Peter Ryan
Peter Ryan (politician)
Peter Julian Ryan is an Australian politician and leader of the National Party in Victoria. He has represented the electoral district of Gippsland South since 1992, and has been the Deputy Premier of Victoria, Minister for Police as well as the Minister for Rural and Regional Development since 2...
, the leader of the Nationals in the Victorian state parliament
Parliament of Victoria
The Parliament of Victoria is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Victoria. It follows a Westminster-derived parliamentary system and consists of The Queen, represented by the Governor of Victoria; the Legislative Council ; and the Legislative Assembly...
. Chester contested Gippsland East
Electoral district of Gippsland East
The Electoral district of Gippsland East is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It covers most of eastern Victoria and includes the towns of Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, Orbost, Omeo, Maffra and Heyfield....
as the National Party candidate at the 2002 Victorian state election, losing to independent Craig Ingram
Craig Ingram
Craig Ingram is a former Australian politician, and was the Independent Member of Parliament for Gippsland East in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1999 to 2010.-Personal life:...
. In 2004, Chester unsuccessfully stood for National Party preselection for the Senate position held by Julian McGauran
Julian McGauran
Julian McGauran , Australian politician, was a member of the Australian Senate, representing the state of Victoria. Elected as a member of the National Party, he resigned from the Nationals and joined the Liberal Party of Australia in February 2006...
. McGauran retained his party endorsement and was re-elected later that year, only to defect to the Liberal Party in 2006.
Chester was re-elected at the 2010 election and appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Regional Transport in September 2010.