Tuesday marks the official opening and first sitting week of the new parliament.

Ms Chesters is seeking an urgent meeting with Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne about why Bendigo Thales missed out on a contract in July. 

She will also call for more time to consider proposed CFA Fair Work legislation. 

“Workplace relations policy and the Fair Work Act is a complex public policy area and I want the time to consult widely and broadly on any proposed changes,” she said. 

“We have time. The proposed agreement is already the subject of a legal challenge in the Supreme Court, scheduled for September 22, and the Enterprise Agreement cannot be signed until that case is concluded. 

“The CFA legislation should not be brought before the Parliament until that case is resolved and the Parliament can consider whether the legislation will have any effect at all on the CFA dispute.”

Concerns about the roll-out of the NBN, particularly to historic Maldon, will see Ms Chesters at the office of Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield.

“Fibre To The Node is not appropriate for a town like Maldon because of the heritage overlay,” she said. 

She said NBN Co had told her they would need a ministerial intervention to install Fibre To The Premises instead. 

Advocating for funding applications from her electorate will also be high on her list of priorities, Ms Chesters said. 

Projects with funding applications pending include the Bendigo Tennis Centre, Bendigo RSL Soldiers Institute Revitalisation project and construction of the Harcourt Mountain Bike Park. 

Ms Chesters believes the 45^th Parliament will be chaotic, but was excited by its potential.

“It will be all about the numbers on the floor and who’s there for any particular vote,” she said.

“It’s a chance for ideas to be focused on, as opposed to party politics.”

She said Labor would work closely with the cross-benchers and spend more time sitting in Parliament and getting involved in votes. 

“We will have the opportunity to put forward a number of private members bills,” she said. 

She said the Parliament’s composition increased the role of the backbencher. 

“If it’s a good idea, under this Parliament, it’s more likely to get the support of Parliament and that good idea could come from anybody,” Ms Chesters said.

“It’s the second-best option to being in government.”