Darren Cheeseman: Labor MP forced to resign after allegations of 'persistent and inappropriate behaviour' towards staff

A veteran Labor MP has been forced to resign from his parliamentary position over allegations of 'persistent and inappropriate behaviour' towards staff. 

In a statement issued on Friday night, Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said she had asked Darren Cheeseman, 47, to resign from his Parliamentary Secretary for Education role and that he had done so.

Ms Allan asked for his resignation due to 'allegations of persistent, inappropriate behaviour in the workplace towards staff'. 

'The wellbeing of staff and their right to a respectful workplace is not negotiable,' she said.

Ms Allan said ministers and parliamentary secretaries are 'expected to behave according to the highest standards of personal conduct in the performance of their duties and to behave in a way that upholds community expectations'.

'Under the Code, ministers and parliamentary secretaries must take all reasonable steps to maintain respectful and appropriate working relationships with their staff, staff of other ministers and MPs, parliamentary staff, VPS staff, and ministerial and parliamentary colleagues,' she added. 

The exact nature of the allegations made against Mr Cheeseman are unknown, but the Herald Sun reported that there have been multiple complaints about him.  

Though Mr Cheeseman resigned from his parliamentary secretary role, he is still a member of the Labor caucus in the Victorian Parliament.

This is likely to lead to internal criticism of Ms Allen, who replaced Daniel Andrews as Premier last September.

'Jacinta was on her feet only days ago where she said calling out bad behaviour could save a life and that we've all got a leadership opportunity to play here,' one MP, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said. 

'This was her opportunity to lead and set an example by throwing him out. 

'She has failed to do that.'

Mr Cheeseman has held the seat of South Barwon for Labor in the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2018. 

Before switching to state politics, he held the federal seat of Corangamite from 2007-2013. 

Last August, another Victorian Labor MP, Will Fowles, resigned from the parliamentary party amid 'serious' assault allegations which he 'strenuously' denied.

He was asked to resign by the then-premier, Mr Andrews.

The police investigated and questioned Mr Fowles over an alleged assault of a staff member, but did not press charges.

But despite this, Ms Allan said Mr Fowles would not be welcomed back into the Labor caucus and he now sits as an independent.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Cheeseman for comment.