Current MP: Darren Chester, Nationals, Traralgon office: 126 Franklin Street, Traralgon, VIC 3844, Ph. (03) 5174 1341, Sale Office: Level 1, 89 Raymond Street, Sale, VIC 3850, Ph. (03) 5144 6744
Major Communities/Cities/Towns within Electorate: Bairnsdale, Churchill, Heyfield, Lakes Entrance, Maffra, Morwell, Orbost, Rosedale, Sale, Stratford, Traralgon and Yarram.
Key 2016 Election Information: 2.59% swing, Labor 31.57%, The Nationals 68.43%, Nationals 73.79% on two party preference voting
Strongest Support* for the Nationals (two party preferred): Lakes Entrance (76.60% of votes), Maffra (74.84%) and Sale (73.05%).
Strongest Support* for Labor (two party preferred): Morwell Estate (ALP 53.49% of votes).
*Note: 'Strongest support' determined using the following criteria: highest % of two-candidate-preferred votes, excluding pre-polling places and polling booths where the number of votes for the winning candidate was less than 1000 or over 5000. This is one example of how you might identify strategic locations in your electorate - for all 2016 election data, please see the AEC Tally Room website.
Background: 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. He has been a member of the House of Representatives for Gippsland in Victoria, representing the Nationals since 2008. Darren served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence in the Abbott ministry from September 2013 to September 2015. In the Turnbull Government he was appointed Assistant Minister for Defence from 21 September 2015, and on 18 February 2016 Darren was sworn in as the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport following a rearrangement in the First Turnbull Ministry.
Key Policy Background: First member of the National Party to announce support for same-sex marriage and Government policies in relation to climate change;
Has stated that he will stand up against:
The increased cost of living the need for ongoing investment in better education our desire for safer roads and improved access to public transport;
The impact the drought and the economic downturn is having on local workers, farmers and small business owners; and the need for infrastructure investment in transport and water.
Relevant Information/Links to Community: Darren is a former Chief Executive Officer of regional lobby group Champions of the Bush and served two terms as President of the Lakes Entrance Business Tourism Association .He has led various community campaigns and has been actively involved in projects to improve the Gippsland Lakes. He volunteers with his children’s junior sporting interests, including the Lakes Entrance Surf Lifesaving Club and Lakes Entrance Football Netball Club.
Record on Issues Related to Refugees:
Voted very strongly against increasing scrutiny of asylum seeker management.
Voted very strongly for temporary protection visas.
Voted moderately against implementing refugee and protection conventions.
Voted moderately against regional processing of asylum seekers.
Was for Australia resettling an additional 12,000 refugees caught up in the Syrian and Iraqi humanitarian crisis.
Key Industries within Electorate: Beef, dairy, sheep, and vegetable farming, cropping, sawmilling and forestry, fishing, tourism, the production of oil, gas and electricity, and correctional and defence services, including the RAAF Base at East Sale.