CALLS to improve health, education and the disadvantaged will headline Nationals MHR for Gippsland Darren Chester's first speech to Federal Parliament tomorrow.
He will also be officially sworn in as the MHR for Gippsland on the same day.
Mr Chester released his draft speech to The Express last week.
It highlights the need to improve the living standards of all Gippslanders and give them a ``voice''.
Climate change, the cost of living, education and health services, safer roads, improved access to public transport, drought assistance, infrastructure investment in transport and water security, and supporting the disadvantaged are other topics Mr Chester will touch upon.
His maiden speech says he will work with government, rather than against it, to help solve some of the issues impacting on Gippslanders.
``In fairness, the community does not expect a new government to solve all these issues in 12 months... but equally, Gippslanders don't expect a new government to keep looking backwards and blaming the previous administration,'' Mr Chester states in the speech.
``I urge government ministers to focus their energy on the challenges that lie ahead rather than attempting to re-write political history.''
Mr Chester says he will spend his term ``fighting for a fair go'' for the less fortunate and he would continue to push for an increase to the single pension rate.
He claims ``older Gippslanders'' are going without healthy food because they can't afford it.
He adds that those who care for family members with a disability are headed down the same path, and will urge for a boost in their financial support.
``Our Federal Budget can afford the expense, we must do more to help those less fortunate,'' he says in the speech.
``Every government needs to be held accountable but I don't believe in opposition for the sake of opposition, it is both juvenile and counter-productive to my aim of working in the best interests of Gippslanders.''
Mr Chester said an MP's maiden speech was usually the most important.
``The first speech is something that people often refer to and in some ways it sets out a blueprint for how I intend to focus my efforts as a Member of Parliament,'' Mr Chester said.
``No doubt I will be fine tuning the speech until the last moment - it's an honour and a privilege to represent Gippsland and I want to make sure that my first speech reflects my passion for our region.''