NATIONALS MP TAKES BREAK FROM PARTY

MODERATE Nationals MP Darren Chester will take a hiatus from the party to focus on his local constituents after months of mounting “disappointment” over his outspoken, “hard right-wing” colleagues such as George Christensen.

The Gippsland MP on Sunday said that he would be taking a break from the party and would not be attending party room meetings because of growing frustrations with the leadership.

It comes as tensions erupt within the party over moves to adopt a target of net zero emissions by 2050.

Speaking to ABC on Monday morning, the former veterans’ affairs minister said he had become “increasingly disappointed” with the comments of some of his colleagues.

“Now, I strongly believe in the Nationals,” Mr Chester said. “I strongly believe that regional Australia needs a powerful voice in the parliament, but it needs to be a sensible voice and I’ve become disappointed with some of the comments of a minority of my colleagues.

“I called them out publicly at the time. I raised my issues with them privately … and I feel disappointed that there was no real support there to pull them into line and to moderate their comments.”