Fresh from his success at the Federal Election, Member for Gippsland Darren Chester sits down with Gippsland Times journalist Stefan Bradley to discuss a variety of topics, including a potential tilt at the leadership of The Nationals. [Note: Since this article went to print for the Gippsland Times, Darren Chester confirmed he is running.]
Stefan Bradley: Congratulations on winning your seat of Gippsland once again. You’ve increased your margin, the Nationals seats have been retained, and you have a new senator. But, there was a significant swing against the Nationals in a number of seats, and you’ve lost government. What happened?
Darren Chester: The fact we had a sizable swing towards us vindicates the way my team has approached the job. We’ve been focused on helping those who come to our office on any federal government issue, and we’ve been able to deliver record funding in infrastructure and get more investment in services, which has been well received in the community. But I certainly recognise from a broader National Party perspective, we had some significant swings against us around regional Australia, which is quite ominous. It’s a warning to us that we need to connect better with younger voters and women. If those swings continue in three years time, my colleagues will lose their seats. I had quite a few voters walk up to me during the campaign and at pre-poll, and say very politely and respectfully to my face that they liked the work we were doing, but wouldn’t be voting for me because of my leader (Barnaby Joyce).
SB: What do you think about Peter Dutton as Liberal leader? At this point in time he looks set to run unopposed.
DC: Peter is someone I worked very closely with when I was a Minister (for Veterans’ Affairs & Defence Personnel), and when he was Leader of the House and I was Deputy Leader of the House. I think the Australian people haven’t seen the best of Peter Dutton. He’s a very warm character when you meet and work with him. He’s come across in the media as a bit of a headkicker, because he’s had pretty tough jobs. He’s had Defence and the Minister for Home Affairs role, which doesn’t really lend itself to warm and fuzzy. I think he will do a good job. I’m pleased that the Liberal Party has reached a consensus, because I think they need to heal from the weekend’s loss and work out what went wrong. I think the Liberal/National Coalition has been good for Gippsland and I’m worried about the direction a Labor Government influenced by the Greens might take.
SB: What’s your relationship with the new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese?
DC: I have a terrific relationship with Anthony Albanese. We’ve known each other for the 14 years I’ve been in Parliament. We worked constructively when we both had the Transport portfolio. I’ve already reached out to congratulate him and said I was happy to provide his office advice when it comes to regional, rural and remote Australia, because Labor does not have any members who live more than two hours from a capital city. They have members in the suburbs and in provincial centres, but none in regional and rural towns, and that’s a gap in their knowledge. If Mr Albanese is serious about uniting Australians, he has to understand our issues, but Labor has completely lost touch with the working class. I will certainly welcome the PM to Gippsland and I’m sure he will receive a warm welcome as Gippslanders are classy people. He can visit the power stations, see oil and gas production works, visit farms and understand our tourism sectors. I don’t want Australia to be divided on city and country boundaries.
SB: Labor increased their margins in Ballarat, Bendigo and the Hunter, albeit not the most rural towns.
DC: Labor does have a policy mix that is attractive to those areas, but the fact that rural, regional and remote communities have resoundingly rejected Labor and the Greens should send a message to Prime Minister Albanese.
[Note: Labor does have one rural seat in the Northern Territory, and another in Tasmania.]
SB: But hasn’t the National Party themselves created a problem with inner city voters?
DC: The colourful language that politicians use is often thoughtless and offensive, especially to those who are the brunt of their jokes. Some of my colleagues with more extreme views are happy for us to stay in opposition – I couldn’t believe some of the things they said during the campaign. You won’t see me deriding city people, but country people are sick and tired of being told what jobs they can and can’t have, by people who don’t live here. I’m talking about jobs such as energy production, manufacturing and the timber industry. Too many decisions are being made in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne by people who don’t understand the impacts on Traralgon, Sale and Bairnsdale.
SB: Are you still for net zero emissions?
DC: Yes.
SB: Should the Coalition have gender quotas?
DC: I’m for the best candidate in every seat being preselected by the parties. The Nationals in Victoria have done a good job at getting candidates into strong positions in the State Parliament. But more broadly, I think that the Liberal and Nationals have to do more to bring more women into leadership roles. I don’t blame women right now for not entering politics now, because it can be quite toxic. I think it can be done without quotas, because I think quotas send a potentially negative message that you only got there because you’re a woman, and I don’t think that’s fair to them. The National Party in Victoria has scholarships to support women on their leadership journey, so we’ve done well here. I baulk at the idea of gender quotas, because I think it can potentially be a double-edged sword.
SB: Will you run for leadership of the Nationals on Monday?
DC: I’m still considering my position and reflecting on feedback from colleagues close to the leadership meeting on Monday. Constituents and people from around the country have been ringing my office encouraging me to run, the only people who get a vote are the 22 members of the Nationals party room, and it’s more important to understand where their heads are at right now. I think we need to change directions as a party, and change the leadership. Whether I should be the leader, or support someone else in the role, that’s the decision I face. Keep in mind, there hasn’t been a leader from Victoria in 50 years, since we have fewer numbers than Queensland and New South Wales. Let’s be realistic, our party is more likely to go with a leader from those states than Victoria.
[Note: Since this article went to print for the Gippsland Times, Darren Chester confirmed he is running.]
SB: As leader, would you find enough time to dedicate to Gippsland as a local member?
DC: When you take on more senior roles, it does take you away from your community and you do have to do longer hours to make up for the time you’re away. I think the people of Gippsland accepted that I was away when I was a Minister because I was doing an important job. It was a blessing in disguise when Barnaby sacked me and put me on the backbench, as I got to spend more time in Gippsland and see people I haven’t been able to see because of the Covid lockdowns. I am focusing on making sure the people of Gippsland gets a fair go from the Government, even if I put my hand up for leadership.
SB: Which projects do you want Mr Albanese to commit to?
DC: Finish the Traralgon-Sale duplication, fund the Traralgon bypass, Sale Alternative Route, and we need further investment in Gippsland rail. Connectivity in all its forms is the critical issue in Gippsland. We need to implement the investments into telecommunications and mobile blackspots. The energy-from-waste initiative and the barramundi project in Maryvale should all go ahead.
SB: Let’s talk state politics. You called the Victorian Liberals an election losing machine in a Facebook post. Do you stand by those comments?
DC: My language was harsh, but when you’ve been in opposition for 19 out of 23 years, you need to do something in a different way to unseat a State Premier who is deeply unpopular in Gippsland, but remains popular in Melbourne. I haven’t seen a Labor minister get past Traralgon in the last six months. They neglect the eastern corner of the state. Shutting down native timber harvesting is a disgrace.
SB: Last question, you keep yourself fairly active. Where’s your favourite place to run?
DC: In Sale I run across the canal, Lake Guthridge or Lake Guyatt. I beat the Rubeena this year in the race! No-one interrupts you when you’re running, your thoughts are your own. It allows me to reflect.
[Online article amended 10am on Friday 27 May.]
Darren Chester sits down with Stefan Bradley from the Gippsland Times. Photo: Tom Parry.
