Premier dismisses South Barwon by-election talk as Darren Cheeseman fronts up to parliament

In the face of overwhelming support for a by-election in the South Barwon electorate, Jacinta Allan sticks her standard lines as two prominent local Labor female figures say they will not seek preselection in the seat.

South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman celebrating after securing the seat at the 2022 state election. Picture: Mark Wilson.

Premier Jacinta Allan has again failed to weigh in to the ongoing controversy surrounding Darren Cheeseman’s position in the Victorian parliament, as two prominent local Labor female figures say they will not seek preselection in the seat.

During the Premier’s visit to Northern Bay College on Friday, she was asked whether Mr Cheeseman’s role as an MP was untenable given 94 per cent of almost 1800 respondents to an Addy poll want the 48-year-old to resign and a by-election held.

Ms Allan again repeated her much-used line since Mr Cheeseman was forced out of Labor in late April that “the decisions around the future of South Barwon are very much a matter for him”.

“As local members of parliament, I focus on my seat and doing the best I can for my community, and I would expect that to be the role of all members of parliament,” she said.

Labor would be loathe to contest a by-election in the current political environment, even in a seat it holds by 10 per cent.

A RedBridge statewide poll conducted in the final week of July found the two major parties tied 50-50 on a two-party preferred basis for the first time in almost seven years.

RedBridge director Kos Samaras pointed to health being front of mind for voters, which does not bode well for Labor considering the recent ambulance ramping crisis and its failure to deliver the Torquay community hospital.

The latter was Mr Cheeseman’s flagship campaign promise during his bid to enter state parliament in 2018.

Hutch Hussein, Geelong MP Christine Couzens and Darren Cheeseman following the 2022 state election. Picture: Mark Wilson.

Former Labor state president Hutch Hussein said she intended to seek preselection in Polwarth ahead of the 2026 election — not South Barwon as some party insiders suggest.

Ms Hussein, a well-connected Labor figure who lives in Torquay, lost Polwarth to Liberal MP Richard Riordan in 2022 by just 1.8 per cent.

Torquay sits in the northwestern corner of Polwarth, which stretches down to Port Campbell along the coast and past Lismore in the north.

Ms Hussein, as was the case with Mr Cheeseman, is a member of Labor’s Socialist Left faction, which controls the South Barwon branch.

Former Cats vice president Diana Taylor said was not interested in seeking preselection in South Barwon.

Ms Taylor lost Corangamite preselection to current MP Libby Coker ahead of the 2019 election and earlier missed out replacing Stephen Conroy in the Senate.

On both occasions she was backed by Deputy Prime Minister and leading Labor Right factional figure Richard Marles.

Mr Cheeseman attended parliament this week.

On Tuesday, he posed a constituency question to Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams about the release of an new timetable for the Geelong rail line.

“The opportunity to have a new, improved timetable servicing the southern suburbs of Geelong is pronounced,” he said.

This came after he dished up a “Dorothy Dixer” to the Premier earlier this month.

He has repeatedly failed to respond to questions from the Addy.

Originally published as Premier dismisses South Barwon by-election talk as Darren Cheeseman fronts up to parliament