Former MP Cheeseman hopes to work new miracle at polls

FIVE years after his rollercoaster ride in the Federal Government came to an end, Darren Cheeseman is switching his focus to the state political arena.

The former Corangamite MP served between 2007 and 2013 and had a frontrow seat to Labor’s leadership turmoil that saw it twice change prime ministers.

Despite living through the chaotic period, Mr Cheeseman said it had not deterred him from rekindling a life in public office.

“It was a very interesting period in politics … (but) while it was pretty robust and bruising at times, I think there was a lot of valuable lessons learnt through that,” he said.

“The lessons learnt from that, I think, have been well applied around (Premier) Daniel Andrews and (Opposition Leader) Bill Shorten, where there has been a lot of party stability.”

At the 2013 federal election, a more than 7 per cent swing against him saw Mr Cheeseman lose the seat of Corangamite to Liberal Sarah Henderson.

Since being dumped from Canberra, Mr Cheeseman hasn’t strayed far from the political sphere.

Prior to the last state election in 2014, he was heavily involved with the United Firefighters Union, and more recently had been working in the office of Labor senator Gavin Marshall. consider putting my hand up for South Barwon, and found the idea very appealing.”

Although it won’t be a simple task to unseat incumbent MP Andrew Katos, Mr Cheeseman is no stranger to pulling off miracles at the ballot box.

In 2007, his victory in Corangamite was the first time Labor had won the seat after 76 years of domination by Liberals and other conservative parties.

“That was huge. Winning in 2007, on the back of the Rudd slide, really changed a nurse, and he credits them with instilling strong Labor values in him.

His “political awakening” — as he refers it — came during Jeff Kennett’s reign as Premier in the 1990s.

He said education cuts under Mr Kennett had a major effect on his public school, with teachers sacked and student camps cancelled.

It fuelled a desire to represent people, particularly the working class.

Mr Cheeseman started by involving himself in the trade union movement, before running as Labor’s candidate in the safe Liberal seat of Polwarth in 2006.

A year later, he ventured into federal parliament.

Since being preselected for South Barwon, the 42year-old has moved back to Torquay, where he has lived on and off for the past decade.

Despite the years spent rubbing shoulders with the nation’s political elite, Mr Cheeseman’s working class heritage shines through when he talks about his hometown.

“You never see anyone in town wearing a tie. Whether you’re a banker, a lawyer or a real estate agent — no one wears a tie down here,” he said with a laugh.

“So I like that too. Jeans, RM Williams and a rolled up shirt is kind of my kit.”

And like his political opponent, Mr Cheeseman is optimistic about his chances of winning South Barwon.

“I think this is a really important seat for us,” he said.

“Obviously Andrew Katos has been the sitting MP for almost eight years and he gets around and does what he needs to do as a backbencher.

“But when I sit back and look at the things that have been delivered throughout South Barwon, the brutal reality is that it’s Labor that delivers.”