‘Letting Geelong down’: Disgraced MP Darren Cheeseman fails to appear in parliament on Tuesday

Embattled South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman has failed to appear in parliament yet again, with his ongoing absence set to be debated in the house.

Embattled independent MP Darren Cheeseman has been accused of “letting Geelong down” after he failed to appear in parliament yet again.

Mr Cheeseman was due to return to parliament on Tuesday, having been on sick leave since he was kicked out of the Labor Party on April 29.

It followed serious allegations that he was involved in misconduct against women, with sources previously telling the Geelong Advertiser he had made female staff feel “uncomfortable”.

State politicians will debate concerns around whether Mr Cheeseman is taking indefinite leave from parliament to avoid scrutiny and leaving South Barwon unrepresented.

Mr Cheeseman had applied for, and was granted, nine sitting days’ leave prior to parliament convening in late May and it is understood he will remain on leave as parliament sits this week.

Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews stands alongside South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman. Picture: Alan Barber

The South Barwon electorate has not had a member representing them in parliament during this period and Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan said Mr Cheeseman’s absences were letting his constituents down.

“The ongoing fact is, (Darren Cheeseman) is not turning up without a reason … you cannot fake or feign a problem if it doesn’t exist,” Mr Riordan said.

He said Mr Cheeseman was “letting Geelong down” and said it was “unprecedented” for a parliamentarian representing the region to take leave for as long as he had.

“He’s abandoned turning up to parliament,” he said.

According to the parliament of Victoria Legislative Assembly, no member can be absent for more than nine consecutive sitting days of any session without the speaker being told why they cannot be present.

A member who fails to do so can be found guilty of contempt.

Mr Riordan argued Mr Cheeseman had “leapfrogged” the acceptable amount of days leave from parliament without providing an exact reason for his absence.

Liberal MP Richard Riordan says Mr Cheeseman has let Geelong down by failing to appear in parliament yet again. Picture: Brad Fleet

Premier Jacinta Allan announced the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Bill 2024 last month.

The bill will establish a Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Commission that will examine the behaviour of MPs, including any allegations of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment.

Ms Allan has said the allegations against Mr Cheeseman did not require any police involvement.

Mr Cheeseman and his office were approached for comment.

His office told the Addy Mr Cheeseman was “not available for comment” about the reason for his current leave.

“He has taken leave from parliament,” a spokesman confirmed.

The disgraced MP has been criticised for not living up to infrastructure promises that helped gain him favour prior to the 2022 election.

There has been little development on a Torquay community hospital promised six years ago and residents are still seeking answers after a $1m pledge was made to develop a business case for a secondary school in Armstrong Creek.

The Geelong Advertiser conducted two polls to see if voters in South Barwon recognised Mr Cheeseman and whether or not they were happy he was still their representative.

Only 28 per cent of people were able to recognise him and most hoped to see him out of office.

Originally published as ‘Letting Geelong down’: Disgraced MP Darren Cheeseman fails to appear in parliament on Tuesday