Darren Chester MP

$30 MILLION TO ADDRESS MOBILE PHONE BLACKSPOTS

August 16, 2010

Mobile phone coverage in Gippsland will be improved under a Coalition Government, according to The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

The Coalition has announced a $30 million mobile phone black-spots program to provide improved access to reliable mobile phone services.

Mr Chester said The Nationals would work with the telecommunications industry and communities to target areas that have inadequate mobile phone coverage in Gippsland.

CHESTER REJECTS ‘LABOR’S DESPERATE TACTICS’

August 14, 2010

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has rejected claims in last week’s News that the Coalition was proposing to offer lower wages to regional workers compared to their city counterparts.

The claims made by Labor Candidate Darren McCubbin have been described as “baseless and without any foundation in truth”.

“This is typical of the Labor Party to try some desperate tactics during an election campaign,” Mr Chester said.

GREENS CANDIDATE ‘AN INSULT TO GIPPSLANDERS’

August 14, 2010

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says all MPs should live in the seat they seek to represent and has described the Greens decision to nominate a candidate from Melbourne as “an insult to Gippslanders”.

Greens candidate Michael Bond has been rarely sighted during the Gippsland campaign and was the only candidate who failed to attend the public debate in Bairnsdale this week.

Speaking after the debate, Mr Chester said the preference deal between Labor and the Greens was a threat to jobs in traditional industries across Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley including timber production, power generation, paper manufacturing and fishing.

CHILDREN TO BE PROTECTED ONLINE UNDER COALITION

August 13, 2010

A free personal computer filter will be made available to families to protect children from online threats in a $60 million commitment under a Coalition Government, according to The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

Mr Chester, who has been advocating for more resources to assist parents in cyber-safety initiatives across regional areas, has welcomed the funding allocation.

The Coalition’s cyber-safety policy will also provide:

$20 MILLION TO TACKLE FERAL ANIMALS UNDER COALITION

August 12, 2010

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says he will fight for East Gippsland’s fair share of a $20 million program to help deal with the increasing wild dog problem if the Coalition wins the August 21 election.

The Federal Coalition has promised the $20 million Feral Animal Control Program to complement existing State Government funding.

The funding forms part of The Nationals comprehensive plan to boost Australian agriculture and ensure food security both now and into the future, according to Mr Chester.

COALITION TO ENSURE QUALITY AGED CARE

August 11, 2010

Aged care services in Gippsland would be improved under a Coalition Government with a plan to provide $935 million over four years to deliver better access to care for older residents.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has welcomed the Coalition’s commitment, particularly in light of the concerns raised by local aged care service providers over the Rudd-Gillard’s Government’s aged care funding arrangements.

Mr Chester said a petition recently launched by local aged care providers highlighted a lack of Federal Government funding that threatened the viability of nursing homes and could result in cuts to vital services for patients in the future.

CHESTER EMPHASISES THE NEED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS

August 9, 2010

The importance of supporting local businesses was emphasised by Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester, at the Flower of the Sea Beauty and Wellbeing Centre.

Mr Chester officially launched the new business owned by Silka Neist in Port Albert on Sunday night.

“I believe it is important that we celebrate the entrepreneurial skills of young people like Silka who have a confidence and determination to start their own small business,” Mr Chester said.

COALITION COMMITS $10M FOR FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM

August 9, 2010

$10 million would be allocated towards the establishment of an early fire detection system under a Coalition Government according to Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

This technology has been used in Europe and the US and has proven to be very effective. Early detection gives communities more time to evacuate an area should a fire start.

The selection of the system will be undertaken in consultation with the Victorian State Government, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and local communities.

THE NATIONALS COMMITED TO BOOSTING HEALTH SERVICES

August 10, 2010

Targeted assistance to boost the rural health workforce and improved mental health services are key features of the Coalition's health plan, according to Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

Mr Chester said The Nationals and Liberals would combine to provide $1.5 billion more for mental health services if they formed government after the Federal election on August 21.

Other highlights of the Coalition's plan released this week include:

LOCALS RAISING ISSUES WITH CHESTER ON TALK TO ME TOUR

August 9, 2010

The environmental health of the Gippsland Lakes, the future of the tourism industry and the need for increased funding to upgrade the Princes Highway were three key issues raised with The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester during his Talk to Me Tour visit to Metung last week.

Mr Chester’s Talk to Me Tour will continue in Lakes Entrance today (Wednesday) at 12noon until 3pm where he will discuss local issues in the lead-up to the Federal Election on August 21.

“One of the main issues which has been raised with me throughout East Gippsland is the need for funding to upgrade the Princes Highway from Sale to the New South Wales border,” Mr Chester said.

REPORT CONFIRMS FLAWS IN SCHOOL HALLS PROGRAM

August 8, 2010

An interim report into the ‘school halls’ program is more proof that the Rudd-Gillard Government has failed to achieve value for money in schools across Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley according to Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

Mr Chester said Building Education Revolution Implementation Taskforce Chief Brad Orgill had recommended that the current approach to the program be scrapped and that schools should be more involved in decision making.

Mr Chester has been critical over the lack of local jobs and the level of waste and mismanagement that was evident in several BER projects across Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley.

YOUTH ALLOWANCE BREAKTHROUGH

August 8, 2010

The Nationals in Government will amend the controversial Youth Allowance legislation to allow all Gippsland students to achieve the independent rate under relaxed workforce participation rules.

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has hailed the policy announcement as a ‘breakthrough for common sense’ and an opportunity to help more Gippsland students attend university in the future.

“This is great news for Gippsland and Latrobe Valley students,” Mr Chester said.

CHESTER SUPPORTS OMEO CHILDCARE PUSH

August 6, 2010

The need for improved childcare services in Omeo and the Tambo Valley was the key issue raised by local residents when they met this week with Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

Mr Chester hosted meetings in Omeo, Swifts Creek and Ensay as part of his ‘Talk to me Tour’ – providing the community with an opportunity to raise several issues of concern.

In addition to expressing their concerns about the lack of childcare services, many local residents supported further funding for programs to control wild dogs and a safety upgrade of the Great Alpine Road.

LOCALS RAISING ISSUES WITH CHESTER ON TALK TO ME TOUR

August 4, 2010

The need for additional funding to support aged care services and concerns over the condition of the Princes Highway were two of the main issues raised with Federal MP Darren Chester during his Talk to Me Tour visit to Paynesville this week.

Mr Chester said there was widespread concern about aged care funding, particularly with the ageing nature of the East Gippsland community.

“The availability of care for people in their own home as well as those seeking a place in an aged care facility is continuing to present itself as a major issue for the next Federal Government,” Mr Chester said.

COALITION TO HELP UNLOCK TOURISM POTENTIAL

August 3, 2010

The importance of Gippsland’s tourism industry would be recognised under a Coalition Government with the sector able to draw on funds from a $40 million Tourism Infrastructure and Development Fund to support local projects.

A Coalition Government would also provide $14 million to Regional Tourism Organisations with individual grants of up to $100,000 per year to promote local tourism to the domestic market.

The Coalition’s election commitment to the tourism industry, now worth a total of $90 million, has been welcomed by The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

GREEN ARMY HAS A ROLE IN PRESCRIBED BURNING

August 2, 2010

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says the Coalition’s proposed Green Army could play a key role in achieving higher prescribed burning targets recommended by the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.

Mr Chester said the Coalition’s plan to employ 15,000 people in a Green Army to undertake practical environmental work should include resources to meet prescribed burning targets when conditions are suitable.

“If the Coalition is elected on August 21, I will be arguing the case for a strong contingent of Green Army workers to be involved in all aspects of environmental work in Gippsland,” Mr Chester said.

COMPUTER RECYCLING PROJECT BENEFITING LOCAL CAUSE

August 2, 2010

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester and Member for Morwell Russell Northe are supporting Lifeline Gippsland in its development of the Gippsland Computer Recycling project.

The project is a joint initiative between Lifeline Gippsland, Gippsland Regional Waste Management Group and PGM Refiners in conjunction with assistance from Latrobe City and the State Government.

Local residents can recycle hard drives, monitors and laptops at a small cost ($5-$10 varying on item and number of items) which acts as a donation to Lifeline Gippsland.

CHESTER BACKS PLAN TO PROTECT FISHING AND TOURISM

August 2, 2010

Gippsland’s recreational anglers and commercial fishermen could be shut out of 30% of Australia’s territorial waters if the Rudd-Gillard Government is re-elected on August 21, according to The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

Mr Chester said a preference deal between the Greens and Labor means the Greens may hold the balance of power in the Senate from July next year.

The preference deal means the Greens’ policy of banning fishing in 30% of Australia’s territorial waters could be introduced if the Rudd-Gillard Government is re-elected.

LATROBE JOBS THREATENED BY BRUMBY WHITE PAPER

July 27, 2010

The Brumby Government’s Climate Change White Paper, which includes plans for a staged closure of the Hazelwood Power Station, provides no long term job security for workers in the Latrobe Valley, The Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe said today.

“John Brumby plans to close two of the eight units at Hazelwood Power Station in the next four years but he has failed to guarantee that jobs will be protected as part of the closures,” Mr Northe said.

“More than 800 people rely on work generated by the Hazelwood Power Station and so a planned closure without an appropriate alternative will have devastating consequences in the Latrobe Valley.

CHESTER BACKS COMMUNITY CRIME FUNDING

July 26, 2010

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is supporting a $50 million funding commitment to improve community safety by re-establishing the National Community Crime Prevention Program.

The program will support the crime-fighting efforts of local communities and the states with grants for security-related infrastructure including closed circuit television (CCTV).

Mr Chester said residents in several Gippsland and Latrobe Valley towns had expressed interest in securing funding for CCTV to reduce the incidence of anti-social behaviour.

ETS DELAYED AGAIN, BUT NOT DEAD

July 23, 2010

The Rudd-Gillard Government which failed to properly consult Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley over its failed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will now develop a “citizens’ assembly” to take over decision-making on the issue.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has criticised Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s proposal for a 150 strong committee to debate the future of the ‘big new tax’.

Mr Chester said Gippslanders would find it remarkable that a government which had refused to consult locals on the impacts of its ETS had developed another delaying tactic.

NATS LEADER RAISES POPULATION CONCERNS

July 21, 2010

Leader of The Nationals Warren Truss says the issue of sustainable population growth has been placed in the too hard basket for too long.

Speaking at Bairnsdale Rotary Club on Tuesday night, Mr Truss said the issue would require a fully informed national debate, regardless of which party won the August 21 Federal election.

Mr Truss was joined at the meeting by Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester and discussed a wide range of non-party political issues.

CHESTER VOWS TO KEEP PUTTING LOCALS FIRST

July 18, 2010

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says he is looking forward to talking to  Gippslanders about the challenges facing the region in the lead-up to the Federal Election on Saturday August 21.

Mr Chester has welcomed Saturday’s announcement that Australia will go to the polls and will be encouraging local residents to raise issues with him directly during a tour of Gippsland towns over the next five weeks.

The campaign will start in earnest this week with Federal Leader of The Nationals Warren Truss visiting Sale, Maffra, Traralgon and Bairnsdale on Tuesday.

MORE POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR DAIRY INDUSTRY IN 2010

July 16, 2010

Positive rainfall and opening milk prices have put Gippsland dairy farmers a long way in front of where they were 12 months ago, according to The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

Murray Goulburn recently announced that as part of its opening milk price it would pay suppliers $4.75 for milk solids or about 36 cents a litre. The price is a 30 per cent increase on the same time last year.

Mr Chester has welcomed the stronger prices for local suppliers after a 30-40 per cent cut in export prices and ongoing dry seasons left many contemplating their long-term viability last year.

TRUSS TO TOUR GIPPSLAND AND LATROBE VALLEY

June 16, 2010

Federal Leader of The Nationals Warren Truss will meet with industry and community leaders during a two day tour of Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley next week.

Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has invited Mr Truss to visit Traralgon, Bairnsdale, Maffra and Sale in the lead up to the Federal election.

While in the Latrobe Valley, Mr Truss will meet with representatives from the power industry and inspect facilities at Australian Paper’s Maryvale Mill. In Bairnsdale and Sale he will meet with local small business people, followed by a tour of the Macalister Irrigation District to discuss opportunities to support future investment in irrigation infrastructure for the dairy industry.