Darren Chester

The Honourable Darren Chester MP
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 February 2016
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Warren Truss (Infrastructure and Regional Development)
Assistant Minister for Defence
In office 21 September 2015 – 18 February 2016
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Stuart Robert
Succeeded by	Michael McCormack
Member of the Australian Parliament for Gippsland
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 June 2008
Preceded by	Peter McGauran
Personal details
Born	Darren Jeffrey Chester 13 September 1967 Sale, Victoria, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	The Nationals
Spouse(s)	Julie Chester
Children	Morgan, Jamieson, Clancy, Lachlan[1]
Occupation	Journalist, Political advisor
Website	darrenchester.com

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 served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence in the Abbott ministry from September 2013 to September 2015.^[2] In the Turnbull Government he was appointed Assistant Minister for Defence from 21 September 2015;^[3] and on 18 February 2016 Chester was sworn in as the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport following a rearrangement in the First Turnbull Ministry.^[4][5]

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.^[6] 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.^[7]

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;^[8] and appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence in September 2013.^[2]

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^[9]

Personal

Chester lives in Lakes Entrance with his wife, Julie,^[10] and their four children, Morgan, Jamieson, Clancy and Lachlan.^[1]

References

1. Chester, Darren (26 August 2008). "First Speech to Parliament" (PDF). Hansard: House of Representatives. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
2. "Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
3. "Parliament of Australia website for Darren Chester". Retrieved 25 September 2015.
4. Massola, James (13 February 2016). "Cabinet reshuffle: Malcolm Turnbull announces new frontbench as Mal Brough resigns". The Age. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
5. "Ministerial Swearing-in Ceremony". Events. Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
6. State Election 2002: Gippsland East District
7. Wright, Tony (28 June 2008). "Timely political payback by McGauran?". The Age.
8. Parliament House Library
9. Darren Chester first National MP to announce support for same-sex marriage ABC
10. "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