[1] In 1988 he was preselected as the Liberal candidate for the marginal Labor-held state seat of Warrandyte in Victoria.
He was successful in winning the seat, becoming the only Liberal candidate to defeat a Labor incumbent member in that election.
When the Coalition lost government in 1999 he became Shadow Minister for Education, moving to Multicultural Affairs for part of 2002, and Employment and Industry in 2002.
In 2002 he became Deputy Leader of the Opposition, holding various shadow ministerial positions including Environment, Scrutiny of Government and Policy Coordination.
Honeywood became Chief Executive of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) in November 2011.