Lee Marchant, Rosedale DARREN Chester’s exit from the ministry means that Gippsland no longer has a direct voice at the Cabinet table. However this does not mean that Gippslanders will not enjoy very strong representation within the Coalition in Canberra. Barnaby Joyce has the support of the majority of his colleagues in Canberra as well as large numbers of Victorian National Party supporters, for good reason. Despite his flaws, he has been a very strong voice for those of us who live in the regions, and he will make the Nationals presence more strongly felt in Cabinet. Further, Senator Bridget McKenzie was raised in Gippsland and is a fierce advocate of things that Gippslanders care about.