Member for Gippsland and Lakes Entrance’s own, Darren Chester, spoke with Lakes Entrance Primary School grade five and six students on Monday morning, outlining the busy lifestyle he leads in his parliamentary role.
Mr Chester spoke to the students for more than an hour, starting by briefly outlining the make up of electorates and how many people they represent around the country, how the voting system works, the different parties that are represented and when elections are held.
He was asked about what his job is and what it entails, in his latest folio of Minister for Veterans and Veterans Affairs.
He had the pleasure of meeting Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, at the Invictus Games, held in Sydney recently, as part of his official duties.
Mr Chester outlined the budget of the Federal Government of approximately $450 billion, and told the students on what and how that spending was divided, such as defence, roads, health, education and more.
The question was asked whether he travelled a lot. His answer: “Yes”.
He has been to more than 15 countries on official duties, including Kabul in Afghanistan and to Iraq, both countries where Australian troops are continually operating. He’s also been to Gallipoli in Turkey, as well as places in France, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
Mr Chester also discussed the upcoming centenary of the end of World War I when he will be travelling to France to commemorate the Australian troops who served there.
Asked what decisions were important that he’d been involved with, Mr Chester mentioned the Veterans Covenant that he has been overseeing and the same sex marriage vote as two prominent examples. The latter, he explained, that through people contacting him and explaining their situations, he had, along with the poll of Australian people in the Plebiscite, changed his views from when he first went into Parliament.
Asked what he wanted to do when he was growing up and at school?: “Be the Australian cricket captain.” Mr Chester got into Parliament after working in the media.
How long will he stay in Parliament?: “As long as I have ideas that can contribute to the country.”
Overall, Mr Chester engaged with the grade five and six students in a friendly and approachable manner, dealing with many and varied questions with respect and courtesy, values he mentioned that are important when people are discussing issues, ideas and problems the qualities he applauded in Australian society.
PICTURED: Lakes Entrance Primary School grade five and six students listened attentively to Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, when he visited the school on Monday.
