Mr Rudd won’t be happy…New MP wags school lessons

Alex de Vos
Member-elect for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman has failed to complete his first homework assignment.
Mr Cheeseman said he was unable to visit two schools in his electorate this week because he did not have a car.
Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd had ordered his MPs to visit both a public and private school in their electorates before the first meeting of caucus yesterday to discuss implementing Labor’s education policy.
But Mr Cheeseman, who lives in Ballarat, said he was left without transport when he had to hand back his car to his previous employer.
However, he said he had visited “a lot of schools” during the election campaign.
Geelong’s bus network passes Grovedale Secondary College, Oberon High School and Christian College but Mr Cheeseman said he had not considered using public transport for the schools assignment.
“I’m waiting for my parliamentary car,” he said.
Mr Cheeseman will earn $166,660 plus travel and accommodation reimbursements for trips related to parliamentary or electorate business.
Mr Cheeseman said he was not sure when he would move to Geelong or whether he would take over the Belmont office of ousted Liberal Member for Corangamite Stewart McArthur.
But member-elect for Corio Richard Marles went back to school this week to successfully complete his assignment.
Mr Marles visited Covenant College in Bell Post Hill on Tuesday and Corio Bay Senior College on Wednesday.
He said both schools were keen to learn about Labor’s new education policies, which included introducing high-speed internet connections.
Federal Labor’s National Secondary School Computer Fund would allow every Australian student in years nine to 12 to have access to their own school computer.
Mr Marles said it was an “exciting” step forward for education.
Labor would implement its education policies immediately, he said.
Mr Marles said he would take over the office of former Member for Corio Gavan O’Connor, in Yarra Street, Geelong.