Darren Chester

Darren Chester was elected to Federal Parliament as the Member for Gippsland in June 2008, in a by-election following the retirement of the Hon Peter McGauran.

Prior to entering Federal Parliament, he worked as a newspaper and television journalist throughout Gippsland and then became Chief of Staff to the Leader of The Nationals in Victoria, Peter Ryan. Mr Chester is former chief executive of regional lobby group, Champions of the Bush, and served two terms as president of the Lakes Entrance Business Tourism Association (LEBTA) where he was heavily involved in tourism marketing and organising major events. He led various community campaigns and has been actively involved in projects to improve the environment of the world-renowned Gippsland Lakes.

In August 2018, Mr Chester was appointed the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC (until May 2019), Minister for Defence Personnel, and Deputy Leader of the House under the Morrison government. In July 2021, he lost the veterans’ affairs and defence personnel portfolios as well as deputy leader of the house role following a leadership spill and the re-election of Barnaby Joyce as Nationals leader and deputy prime minister.