A veteran Labor MP has been forced to resign from his parliamentary role over allegations of “persistent and inappropriate behaviour” towards staff.
In a statement issued on Friday night, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said she had asked Darren Cheeseman, 47, to resign as Parliamentary Secretary for Education and that he had done so.
Allan called for his resignation due to “allegations of persistent and inappropriate workplace behavior towards staff”.
“The well-being of staff and their right to a respectful workplace is non-negotiable,” he said.
Allan said ministers and parliamentary secretaries are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of personal conduct in the performance of their duties and to behave in a way that upholds community expectations.
Labor MP Darren Cheeseman (pictured) has been forced to resign from his parliamentary role over allegations of “persistent and inappropriate behaviour” towards staff.
“Under the Code, ministers and parliamentary secretaries must take all reasonable steps to maintain respectful and appropriate working relationships with their staff, the staff of other ministers and parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, VPS staff and their ministerial and parliamentary colleagues “he added.
The exact nature of the accusations against Mr. Cheeseman is unknown, but the Herald of the sun He reported that there have been multiple complaints about him.
Although Cheeseman resigned as parliamentary secretary, he remains a member of the Labor group in the Victorian Parliament.
This is likely to spark internal criticism of Allen, who replaced Daniel Andrews as Prime Minister last September.
“Jacinta stood up just a few days ago and said that calling out bad behavior could save a life and that we all have a leadership opportunity to play here,” said one MP, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
‘This was his chance to lead and set an example by kicking him out.
“She hasn’t managed to do that.”
Cheeseman has held the South Barwon for Labor seat in the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2018.
Before moving into state politics, he held the federal seat of Corangamite from 2007 to 2013.
Last August, another Victorian Labor MP, Will Fowles, resigned from the parliamentary party amid “serious” assault allegations which he “strongly” denied.
The then Prime Minister, Andrews, asked him to resign.
Police investigated and questioned Mr Fowles over an alleged assault on a member of staff, but did not press charges.
But despite this, Allan said Fowles would not be welcome back in the Labor group and now sits in an independent position.
WhatsNew2Day Australia has contacted Cheeseman for comment.
In a statement issued on Friday evening, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (pictured) said she had asked Darren Cheeseman to resign as Parliamentary Secretary for Education.