Darren Cheeseman

Darren Leicester Cheeseman (born 8 June 1976) is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since November 2018, representing the seat of South Barwon. He previously held the federal seat of Corangamite from 2007 to 2013.[1]

Darren Cheeseman MP
Member of the Victorian Parliament for South Barwon
Incumbent
Assumed office 24 November 2018
Preceded by	Andrew Katos
Member of the Australian Parliament for Corangamite
In office 24 November 2007 – 7 September 2013
Preceded by	Stewart McArthur
Succeeded by	Sarah Henderson
Personal details
Born	8 June 1976 Christchurch, New Zealand
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Labor
Alma mater	University of Ballarat
Occupation	Union organiser
Website	www.darrencheeseman.org.au

Cheeseman was born in Christchurch, New Zealand.[2] He grew up in Ballarat and attended Mount Clear College. He later studied for a Bachelor of Applied Science in Geology at the University of Ballarat. He worked for the Association for the Blind, and during that time also served as a councillor for the City of Ballarat. He later worked for the Community and Public Sector Union.[3]

In 2006, Cheeseman contested Labor preselection for Corangamite against the Labor candidate at the 2004 election, former Geelong mayor Peter McMullin.[1] Having secured preselection, he went on to defeat long-time Liberal incumbent Stewart McArthur with a 6.6% swing. McArthur had held the seat since 1984. Cheeseman attributed his win to opposition to WorkChoices, the Liberal government's industrial relations laws.[4] Cheeseman was only the third Labor member ever to win Corangamite, and the first since 1929.[1] He narrowly held Corangamite at the 2010 election, against Liberal candidate Sarah Henderson, becoming the first Labor member to win a second term in the seat. However, he was defeated by Henderson at the 2013 federal election.

Cheeseman sought Labor preselection for Corangamite in 2015, but was defeated by Surf Coast Shire Councillor Libby Coker.

In 2018, Cheeseman was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the Labor candidate for South Barwon.

References

1. Whalley, Jeff, Ballarat man Darren Cheeseman breaks 70-year hoodoo in Corangamite, 26 November 2007, Geelong Advertiser
2. Australian Parliamentary biography
3. "ALP profile". Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
4. Rood, David, Swing to Cheeseman stops Lib's long run, 25 November 2007, The Age

External links

• Search or browse Hansard for Darren Cheeseman at OpenAustralia.org