Darren Chester MP

March 10, 2010

Pensioners across Gippsland will next week receive an increase in their payments under the indexation of benefits.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said maximum fortnightly pension payments would increase by $29.20 to $701.10 for singles and by $44 to $1057 for couples from March 20, 2010.

Mr Chester has been a strong campaigner for increasing pension payments. Last year with the support of 2700 Gippslanders he initiated a successful campaign that ensured the Rudd Government honoured a commitment to significantly increase pension payments as part of the 2009-2010 Budget.

April 21, 2009

More than 2650 Gippslanders have sent a message to the Prime Minister to make sure the Government doesn’t back away from its promises to increase pension rates in next month’s budget.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has received the messages in response to his campaign calling for an increase in pensions, including Disability Support Pensions and payments for carers.

Mr Chester sent out pre-written postcards across the Gippsland electorate to provide locals with an easy means of registering their support for a permanent increase in the pension.

April 1, 2009

Locals are being asked to send a message to the Prime Minister to make sure the Government doesn’t back away from its promises to increase pension rates.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has sent out 55,000 pre-written postcards calling for an increase in pensions, including Disability Support Pensions and payments for carers.

The postcards will be inserted into Gippsland newspapers this week.

February 18, 2009

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is calling for the Government to subsidise the cost of set-top boxes for pensioners to access free-to-air television.

Since the Gippsland bushfires damaged the Mt Tassie transmission tower, many Gippslanders have been left unable to access local television stations unless they have a set-top box for digital TV,” Mr Chester said.

“I have been advised that some of those stations will be permanently unavailable if residents do not have a set-top box to access digital television.”

October 14, 2008

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says the decision to provide a pre-Christmas bonus to pensioners and carers will help Gippslanders cope with the increased cost of living.

Mr Chester has conducted a long-running campaign to secure a boost in the level of support for pensioners, carers and people with disabilities and has welcomed today’s announcement by the Prime Minister.

“This is a great win for Gippslanders who are struggling to make ends meet on the pension,” Mr Chester said.

September 23, 2008

The pressure is on Labor backbenchers to stand up for older Gippslanders and support an urgent increase in pension payments, according to The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

Mr Chester has welcomed the passing of the Opposition’s Bill through the Senate which would increase the single age, single service age and widow B pension by $30 a week.

The Bill must now pass through the House of Representatives in order for pensioners to receive the benefit.  It is not expected to be passed through the House of Representatives, because of the Labor Government’s majority.

September 16, 2008  

The Labor Party has acted in Federal Parliament to avoid debate on a proposal to increase the single age pension by $30 per week. 

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says he is disappointed that Labor backbenchers have failed to stand up for older Australians who are struggling to make ends meet on $273 per week.

 “The Nationals and Liberal Party Opposition is supporting efforts to increase the level of pensions but the Labor Party is using its numbers in the House of Representatives to prevent debate,” Mr Chester said.

September 10, 2008

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester will push for a Private Member’s Bill to increase the pension and provide a one-off bonus payment before Christmas.

Mr Chester, who was elected on a campaign of fighting for a fair go for pensioners in Gippsland, said it was time for both sides of politics to get serious about helping pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.

“Everyone from the Prime Minister down has admitted that it is impossible to live on $273 per week as a single aged pensioner and we must increase the pension immediately,” Mr Chester said.

September 4, 2008  

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has called for a $300 pre-Christmas payment for pensioners and carers as they wait out the Rudd Labor Government’s never-ending series of reviews. 

Mr Chester also told Federal parliament today that the single age pension was inadequate and must be urgently increased by $30 per week to provide a decent standard of living. 

“If the government wants to buy some time … I support an immediate catch-up payment of $300 to pensioners and carers – including people with a disability who were discriminated against in the May budget,” Mr Chester said. 

August 28, 2008

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has stepped up the campaign for an increase in pensions, raising the issue twice in Federal Parliament this week.

Speaking in Parliamentary question time, Mr Chester challenged the Prime Minister to explain why his government had “done nothing to help senior Australians meet the rising costs of groceries, housing and petrol” in the nine months since last year’s election.

Mr Chester also raised the issue during his inaugural speech on Tuesday where he said that single aged pensioners couldn’t afford to wait for an increase in the current pension of $273 per week.