Two Labor candidates vie for South Barwon as Darren Cheeseman remains absent
Former journalist faces challenge from local councillor in Labor’s bid to retain the South Barwon seat currently held by absent MP Darren Cheeseman.
The race to replace missing-in-action MP Darren Cheeseman is ramping up as two candidates put their hand up for Labor preselection in South Barwon, including a local councillor.
Former Andrews Government staffer Rebecca Thistleton has long been the raging favourite, having moved to Armstrong Creek from Melbourne with her family during the current term of government.
She is all but certain to win preselection against Surf Coast Shire councillor Adrian Schonfelder, who also put his hand up ahead of nominations closing on Friday.
One Labor source said Mr Schonfelder’s nomination had been rejected on a technicality but this could not be confirmed.
When contacted, Mr Schonfelder would only say: “I enthusiastically encourage anyone to put their hand up for public office, it can be very rewarding achieving good outcomes.”
The Victorian state election is scheduled for November 2026.
Ms Thistleton, the party’s South Barwon branch secretary and a widely respected policy expert, is executive director of the McKell Institute in Victoria, a left-leaning organisation that describes itself as “a progressive research institute”.
The one-time journalist previously worked in Dan Andrews’ office as a media and policy adviser to senior ministers.
She unsuccessfully ran as Labor’s candidate in the Greens-held seat of Melbourne at the 2022 election, picking up 30.7 per cent of the primary vote.
In a note to branch members, seen by the Addy, Ms Thistleton, a mother-of-two, outlined her case to be Labor’s candidate in a seat Mr Cheeseman won for the party in 2022 by almost 10 per cent.
“I want to build on the government’s extensive investment in schools and healthcare so that services keep growing,” she wrote.
“I want a successful Treaty with our First Nations people, and make sure the Liberals cannot tear down years of thorough and careful work.
“Since 2014, Victoria has had one of the most progressive and constructive governments any Australian state has ever had.
“I want to spend the year ahead fighting to win South Barwon, because if Labor loses, that work stops.”
The Liberals have not yet preselected a candidate for the seat current Geelong councillor Andrew Katos held for the party from 2010 to 2018.
Mr Katos stood again in 2022 when he was defeated by Mr Cheeseman, who was unceremoniously dumped by Labor in April last year amid allegations of “persistent and inappropriate behaviour” towards female staff.
Despite pledging that he would continue to advocate for the region from the crossbench, Mr Cheeseman has not appeared at any public events, does not have an online presence, and does not respond to media inquiries – as was the case this week when asked if he would run as an independent in 2026.
Mr Schonfelder was Labor’s candidate in the federal seat of Flinders in 2010 when he accused then opposition leader Tony Abbott of “influencing people to take their own lives”.
He was forced to withdraw the comments and apologise, before resigning just days later after being involved in a car accident.
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Originally published as Two Labor candidates vie for South Barwon as Darren Cheeseman remains absent
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