Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, has sought the resignation of South Barwon Labor MP, Darren Cheeseman, from his role as a parliamentary secretary following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
In a statement released on Friday afternoon which didn’t name the MP, the Premier said she had asked for MP’s resignation after “allegations of persistent, inappropriate behaviour in the workplace towards staff”.
Under the Ministerial Code of Conduct, 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, the Premier’s statement reads.
“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 said.
“The wellbeing of staff and their right to a respectful workplace is not negotiable.”
Mr Cheeseman will remain a member of Parliament and a member of the Parliamentary Labor Party, the Premier confirmed.
