• National Party Representative for Gippsland
• Minister for Defence Personnel (since 6 Feb 2020)
  Minister for Veterans' Affairs (since 6 Feb 2020)
  Deputy Leader of the House (since 5 Mar 2018)
• Entered House of Representatives on 28 June 2008 — Byelection
• Email me whenever Darren Chester speaks (no more than once per day)

• Voting record
• Numbers
• Register of Interests

How Darren Chester voted on key issues since 2006:

• Voted very strongly against same sex marriage. votes
• Voted very strongly against tobacco plain packaging. votes
• Voted very strongly against a carbon price. votes
• Voted very strongly against increasing scrutiny of asylum seeker management. votes
• Voted very strongly for government administered paid parental leave. votes
• Voted very strongly against increasing trade unions' powers in the workplace. votes
• Voted very strongly against the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. votes
• Voted moderately against implementing refugee and protection conventions. votes
• Voted very strongly against increasing competition in bulk wheat export. votes
• Voted very strongly for recognising local government in the Constitution. votes
• Voted very strongly for temporary protection visas. votes
• Voted very strongly for voluntary student union fees. votes
• Voted moderately for increasing or removing the debt limit. votes
• Voted strongly against a minerals resource rent tax . votes
• Voted very strongly against increasing protection of Australia's fresh water. votes
• Voted moderately against regional processing of asylum seekers. votes
• Voted very strongly against increasing marine conservation. votes
• Voted very strongly for unconventional gas mining. votes
• Voted very strongly against restricting foreign ownership. votes
• Voted very strongly against increasing investment in renewable energy. votes
• Voted very strongly for privatising government assets. votes
• Voted very strongly against more scrutiny of intelligence services & police. votes
• Voted very strongly against increasing Aboriginal land rights. votes
• Voted moderately against increasing funding for university education. votes
• Voted very strongly against decreasing the private health insurance rebate. votes
• Voted very strongly for increasing the price of subsidised medicine. votes
• Voted moderately against increasing the age pension. votes
• Voted very strongly for live animal exports. votes
• Voted very strongly against carbon farming. votes
• Voted very strongly for decreasing availability of welfare payments. votes
• Voted very strongly against re-approving/ re-registering agvet chemicals. votes
• Voted very strongly for the Intervention in the Northern Territory. votes
• Voted very strongly for an emissions reduction fund. votes
• Voted very strongly for increasing funding for road infrastructure. votes
• Voted very strongly against increasing restrictions on gambling. votes
• Voted very strongly against increasing fishing restrictions. votes
• Voted very strongly against encouraging Australian-based industry. votes
• Voted very strongly against increasing consumer protections. votes
• Voted very strongly against increasing public access to government data. votes
• Voted very strongly against an NBN (using fibre to the premises). votes
• Has never voted on decreasing ABC and SBS funding. votes

Read about how the voting record is decided.

More on their full record

• Never rebels against their party in this parliament.

Statements by Members: Veterans: Mental Health (2 Sep 2021)

“[by video link] I would like to congratulate the Department of Veterans' Affairs for providing fully trained psychiatric assistance dogs for eligible veterans right across Australia. As we know, mental health issues are often difficult to treat and resistant to treatment. The evidence is growing that these specially trained dogs can play an important role in our veterans' community. They have...”

Statements by Members: Victoria: COVID-19 (31 Aug 2021)

“[by video link] I commend the presiding officers, the parliamentary staff, the Prime Minister and the opposition leader for finding ways to allow federal parliament to sit with the virtual participation option for members and senators. This collaborative approach stands in stark contrast to the Premier of Victoria, who refuses to subject his government to any scrutiny by the opposition at...”

Ministerial Statements: Closing the Gap (11 Aug 2021)

“I appreciate this opportunity to make some remarks in relation to the Ministerial Statement on Closing the Gap. I would argue that Indigenous reconciliation remains the greatest piece of unfinished business in our nation today. Sure we have issues right now with the coronavirus, but we'll work our way through the pandemic in months or perhaps a few years time. But Indigenous disadvantage in...”

More of Darren Chester's recent appearances

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Please note that numbers do not measure quality. Also, Representatives may do other things not currently covered by this site. (More about this)

• Has spoken in 30 debates in the last year — well below average amongst Representatives.
• People have made 15 comments on this Representative's speeches — well above average amongst Representatives.
• This Representative's speeches are understandable to an average 18–19 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
• 32 people are tracking whenever this Representative speaks — email me whenever Darren Chester speaks.
• Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 540 times in debates — above average amongst Representatives. (Why is this here?)

Darren Chester's latest interest statement