Labor MP kicked out of caucus over alleged inappropriate behaviour says he will stay in parliament

The Victorian MP kicked out of the Labor caucus over allegations of persistent inappropriate behaviour says he intends to stay in parliament.

The Barwon South MP was punted from his job as parliamentary secretary for education on Friday after Premier Jacinta Allan revealed there had been complaints about his behaviour. On Monday night, just hours before parliament was due to return, Allan released a statement saying she had asked Cheeseman to resign after receiving new information.

“This afternoon I received new information about further allegations of persistent, inappropriate behaviour by the member for South Barwon towards another member of staff,” she said.

“After enquiries by my office, and in consultation with my colleagues, tonight I asked the member for South Barwon to resign as a member of the Parliamentary Labor Party – and he has done so.

“Following these new allegations it is now clear to me that there is no place for the member for South Barwon in my government.

South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman has resigned from the Parliamentary Labor Party.

“The wellbeing of staff and their right to a respectful workplace is not negotiable.”

In a post on Facebook, Cheeseman said he would remain in parliament to serve his constituents, meaning he will sit on the crossbench.

“A short while ago, I received a call requesting my … [resignation] from the Parliamentary Labor Party. I have provided that … [resignation]. I will continue to serve the people of South Barwon as their MP,” he wrote. “This is an incredibly distressing time for me and my family and I ask our privacy to please be respected.”

Allan said she first learnt about Cheeseman’s alleged conduct late on Wednesday — two days before asking for him to resign and in the days after her office received the complaint.

She defended her initial decision not to seek his removal from her parliamentary team when she was asked four times why alleged persistent inappropriate workplace behaviour was acceptable in her party room.

Five Labor sources, speaking anonymously to discuss internal matters, said the original complaints about Cheeseman’s alleged behaviour related to persistent sexual comments towards one staffer. Cheeseman was not alleged to have engaged in any physical contact.

Allan said further complaints were brought to her office on Monday, and that she was then briefed late in the afternoon. She said the nature of the allegations did not require a police referral.

“My firm focus is on the well-being of the staff involved,” she said.

Cheeseman was parliamentary secretary for the Commonwealth Games before the 2026 regional event was cancelled. In October, he was transferred to the education portfolio.

Parliamentary secretaries are MPs who assist cabinet ministers with their portfolio responsibilities, sometimes known as assistant ministers.

Cheeseman was a federal MP in the seat of Corangamite – which takes in parts of Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast – from 2007 to 2013. He moved to state politics with his election to the seat of South Barwon, which covers parts of Geelong and areas to the south and west of the city, in 2018.

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