Cheeseman eyes a double chance
LABOR pre-selection battles for South Barwon and Corangamite are set to blur with former federal MP Darren Cheeseman understood to be contemplating a dual-pronged attack.
The Geelong Advertiser reported yesterday that Mr Cheeseman was contemplating a political comeback in the state seat of South Barwon, although sources said he was likely to throw his hat into the federal ring as “career insurance”.
The next state election is set for November next year and the next federal election is due around mid-2019, leaving a six-month or less gap between Victorians going to the polls.
South Barwon MP Andrew Katos questioned Mr Cheeseman’s commitment to the Geelong region, given the Labor MP resides in Ballarat.
“When Darren Cheeseman lost Corangamite four years ago, he sold up his place in Highton and moved back to Ballarat,” the Liberal MP said.
“Obviously his heart lies in Ballarat, which is fine, but why try to represent an area that you have no connection to? I was born in Geelong, raised in Geelong, run a business in Geelong and have a deep commitment to the area.”
However, a Labor member defended Mr Cheeseman’s leadership credentials.
“Darren was a great local member in Corangamite and he’s got the runs on the board,” the ALP source said. “He defeated Sarah Henderson in 2010, which was a tough election for us before she won in 2013, which was a landslide in most parts of Australia. With Labor on the way up, I can see him doing well, particularly in Corangamite, given he’s already known there.”
Mr Cheeseman has maintained a social media presence on political matters, slamming Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese for his criticism of a Queensland ALP television advertisement featuring Opposition Leader Bill Shorten earlier this year.
In a Facebook post earlier this year, he described Mr Albanese as “the next Mark Latham”. “Albo you are a rat. Just Go,” Mr Cheeseman wrote in May.
A Labor supporter responded to defend Mr Albanese, stating the Labor frontbencher was “asked a question, said what he thought, the ad was a shocker” and to “cut the vitriol, Comrade”, to which the former Corangamite MP replied: “AlboRatanese. He knows what he’s doing.”