Darren Chester

We estimate Darren Chester received a parliamentary salary of: $299,090

Based on the Remuneration Tribunal base salary of $239,270 plus any additional allowance for ministerial, shadow or office-holder roles held at time of generation.

• Latest quarter total: $160,707
• Travel Allowance: $10,360
• Printing and Communications: $60,701
• Publications: $997
• Office Consumables and Services: $4,827
• Telecommunications - Residential - Official: $436
• Telecommunications - Usage: $1,032
• Private-Plated Vehicle: $9,504
• COMCAR: $6,010
• Fares: $5,829
• Domestic Travel: $19,198
• Office Facilities - Not stated: $41,812

• Labor backs Greens inquiry into gas export tax – as it happened
• Australia Post hikes delivery companies’ fuel surcharge – as it happened
• Crossbench MPs pressure Labor over gas export tax – as it happened
• BoM forecasts high chance of cyclone forming in Coral Sea – as it happened
• Pocock repeats calls for 25% tax on gas exports – as it happened
• Matt Canavan has promised me a hyper Australia. I’m ready to chug red cordial and get on board | James Colley
• ACCC calls emergency meeting with fuel suppliers – as it happened
• Afternoon Update: Canavan to lead Nationals; Iranian football squad member changes mind on asylum offer; and the world’s fattest parrot
• Labor approves 4.41% increase for health insurance premiums – as it happened
• Thousands gather at Melbourne Herzog protest – as it happened

• Politics podcast: Darren Chester on the Nationals’ success (2016-07-13)
  Michelle Grattan
  By increasing their numbers within the government, the Nationals were the surprise success story of the election, with a very locally focused campaign.
• Politics podcast: Darren Chester on the infrastructure spending spree (2017-10-04)
  Michelle Grattan
  Darren Chester says there is too much hyper-partisanship in Australian politics.
• Turnbull’s reshuffle undermined by Barnaby Joyce’s ousting of Darren Chester (2017-12-19)
  Michelle Grattan
  Malcolm Turnbull’s reshuffled cabinet has five new faces, but one of the Nationals’ best performers has been unceremoniously dumped by his party leader.
• View from The Hill: Darren Chester on being ‘screwed over’ by Barnaby Joyce – twice (2021-06-28)
  Michelle Grattan
  Darren Chester says he can’t explain why Barnaby Joyce sacked him because the Deputy Prime Minister was “incoherent” when he rang on Sunday to tell him he was being relegated from cabinet to the backbench.
• McCormack puts Chester back on frontbench in cautious changes (2018-03-01)
  Michelle Grattan
  Michael McCormack has rewarded supporters but has been cautious in making changes.
• Littleproud ousts Joyce in Nationals leadership spill, as Liberals give Dutton clear run (2022-05-30)
  Michelle Grattan
  Joyce’s deputy David Littleproud and backbencher Darren Chester have both announced they will run for the leadership of the Nationals.
• To Scott Morrison’s relief, Michael McCormack holds his job as Nationals’ leader (2020-02-04)
  Michelle Grattan
  The result will be a deep relief to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who stood to be a big loser if forced to partner with Joyce.
• Joyce repays supporters and demotes opponents in a ‘reward and punishment’ reshuffle (2021-06-27)
  Michelle Grattan
  The Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie has been restored to cabinet and Darren Chester has been dropped to the backbench in a reshuffle of blatant reward and punishment following Barnaby Joyce’s elevation.
• A reshuffle that’s come with plenty of pain and questionable gain (2017-12-19)
  Michelle Grattan
  There is not a great deal to be said for Malcolm Turnbull’s reshuffle, and quite a lot to be said against it.
• View from The Hill: it’s now Canavan v Joyce after the Nationals opt for the radical leadership option (2026-03-11)
  Michelle Grattan
  The Nationals have chosen a hard-line leader for their existential battle against One Nation.
• Brandis off to London, as Turnbull prepares his reshuffle (2017-12-17)
  Michelle Grattan
  George Brandis will become Australia’s high commissioner to London in a reshuffle set to be announced on Tuesday.
• Canavan brings back McCormack in Nationals frontbench shake up (2026-03-16)
  Michelle Grattan
  The new Nationals leader promotes a ‘posse of patriots’ to the Coalition front bench.
• Nationals elect Bridget McKenzie as new deputy (2017-12-07)
  Michelle Grattan
  This is the second consecutive time the Nationals have chosen a female senator as deputy leader.
• McCormack wins Nationals leadership after token challenge by Christensen (2018-02-25)
  Michelle Grattan
  Michael McCormack’s challenges include uniting his party behind him, making himself widely known among rural and regional voters, and forging a strong relationship with Malcolm Turnbull.
• View from The Hill: Coalition split puts Victorian and NSW Nationals Senate seats at high risk (2025-05-21)
  Michelle Grattan
  The Coalition split threatens to unseat two National senators at the next election.
• Barnaby Joyce might seek another portfolio (2016-06-22)
  Michelle Grattan
  Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has left the way open for a possible change of portfolio in a re-elected Turnbull government – assuming he holds his seat.
• View from The Hill: Littleproud and Ley turn on the music for another attempt at the two-step (2026-02-02)
  Michelle Grattan
  Nationals leader David Littleproud easily saw off a spill motion as he and Sussan Ley plan to meet to discuss restoring the Coalition.
• Richard Di Natale quits Greens leadership, as Barnaby Joyce seeks a tilt at Michael McCormack (2020-02-03)
  Michelle Grattan
  Natale’s shock resignation comes as former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce announced he would challenge Nationals leader Michael McCormack if there was a move for a leadership spill on Tuesday.
• View from The Hill: Politicians not bureaucrats are the ones in touch, Morrison claims in sports affair (2020-01-29)
  Michelle Grattan
  Despite Morrison saying how much he respected the “professionalism”, “expertise” and “skills” of the public service, his remarks won’t be lost on federal bureaucrats.
• With a new prime minister nominated, the Nationals have a rare chance to assert themselves (2018-08-24)
  Gregory Melleuish
  The National Party has the opportunity to use its role within the Coalition to exercise its influence on behalf of rural Australia.
• Turnbull backed against the wall by rebel Nationals on bank inquiry (2017-11-27)
  Michelle Grattan
  Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison appear to have become hostages to rebel Nationals determined at all costs to secure a commission of inquiry into the banks.
• View from The Hill: Barnaby Joyce keeps his political hands clean on the road to net zero target (2021-10-12)
  Michelle Grattan
  It is ‘more likely than not’ that Scott Morrison will attend the Glasgow Climate Conference as he attempts to tie down a deal with the Nationals
• Learning from Victoria’s TAFE mistakes (2014-12-07)
  Peter Noonan
  In the 40 years since its inception, rarely has TAFE featured as a central platform on which political parties win or lose votes. As such it seldom rates mentions in political campaigns as a distinct sector…
• Agitated Nationals grapple with climate debate, as former minister Chester takes ‘a break’ from party room (2021-09-26)
  Michelle Grattan
  Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce are set to negotiate the roadmap for Australia’s climate change policy, while grappling with potential fallout from the National Party.
• Joyce says Nationals don’t want bigger 2030 climate target as party room frets about regional protections (2021-10-17)
  Michelle Grattan
  As Scott Morrison confirms that he will attend the Glasgow climate conference, Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce has killed the prospect of the party agreeing to a new 2030 emission reductions target.
• View from The Hill: Barnaby Joyce challenges McCormack with pitch to make Nationals more assertive (2020-02-03)
  Michelle Grattan
  The Nationals’ meltdown has been triggered by the forced resignation of Bridget McKenzie, and while only a new deputy needed to be elected, Joyce has seized the opportunity to make his leadership run.
• Labor moves in on the Barnaby Joyce affair (2018-02-11)
  Michelle Grattan
  Labor is eyeing possible openings to exploit in the liaison between Barnaby Joyce and his former staffer Vikki Campion.
• Jostling underway in Nationals for post-Truss era (2015-10-16)
  Michelle Grattan
  A rather arcane argument this week about responsibility for water in his government might have given Malcolm Turnbull cause for pause.
• Nationals win extra cabinet position as they sign up to net zero deal (2021-10-25)
  Michelle Grattan
  Nationals agree to net-zero and win extra cabinet spot in the negotiations
• Eden-Monaro and Gippsland are next-door neighbours: why is one seat safe and the other marginal? (2022-05-25)
  Erik Eklund
  Two regional seats that straddle the NSW/Victorian border, Eden-Monaro and Gippsland, are geographically close. But these seats repeatedly return very different election results.