Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is well known that I love Gippsland, but I also love country pubs. So this year I've initiated the 'Great Gippsland Pub Challenge'.

Obviously, during this COVID year, the hospitality industry has been impacted severely by restrictions and lockdowns. This local initiative was actually my New Year's resolution: to try to have a meal at every pub in Gippsland during 2021. So this is about putting locals first; it's about visiting more than 50 pubs across my electorate during the course of the year. It's about shopping locally, eating locally and supporting local jobs. I said it was a challenge, and the challenge is to the people of Gippsland. If they join me and visit 11 pubs across Gippsland then they get a free T-shirt: 11 pubs, a free T-shirt.

As politicians we're renowned for making up excuses for a whole range of things, but if you get any trouble at home—any arguments at home—about your Great Gippsland Pub Challenge, you're not just going to the pub you're a one-person economic stimulus package for Gippsland! Keep that in mind. It's amazing what people will do for a Gippsland T-shirt—it's amazing what they'll do! Wherever you live, support your local hospitality sector, support your local pubs and, of course, eat and drink responsibly.

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