Political earthquake as the most controversial woman in Victoria makes sudden return to Liberal Party power as John Pesutto is replaced: Who is new leader Brad Battin?
Victoria’s Liberal opposition has dramatically voted exiled colleague Moira Deeming back into its ranks by 23 votes to 4 – and party leader John Pesutto has been replaced.
Police spokesman Brad Battin will now lead the party after defeating first-term MP Jess Wilson and Mornington MP Chris Crewther, who both announced their candidacy for the top job.
Former party leader Michael O’Brien told reporters he would rather be at the cricket than in the banquet hall, but underlined the need for unity.
“Unless we can win and keep a government, we cannot increase the freedom, prosperity and security of Victorians or Australians,” O’Brien said.
“So we just have to pull it together, get behind the decision that’s made today and win the next election for Victoria.”
Former professional tennis player and Nepean MP Sam Groth was elected deputy leader of the party.
Opposition finance spokeswoman Jess Wilson had announced her candidacy after a deal to become front-runner Brad Battin’s replacement fell through.
“The best way to beat Jacinta Allan and Labor was with a united leadership ticket,” Ms Wilson said. Ms Wilson was eliminated in the first round of the leadership vote.
Moira Deeming has triumphantly returned to the parliamentary Liberal party room
Brad Battin (centre) is the new Leader of the Victorian Opposition
Mr. Battin is a former police officer and former Bakers Delight franchisee.
Pesutto’s job has been on shaky ground since he lost a defamation case brought against him by former colleague Moira Deeming.
A Federal Court judge ruled that the Liberal leader defamed Ms Deeming by implying she had links to Nazis who attended a controversial meeting in Melbourne where she was present, and ordered that he pay her $315,000 and costs.
Then came a shock when former tennis player and politician Groth resigned from his position in the shadow cabinet, citing its leader’s refusal to step down after the court defeat.
A party vote, which took place less than a week later to decide whether to allow Ms Deeming back into the party, split the team down the middle, with Mr Pesutto casting the deciding vote to prevent her return.
The Hawthorn MP deemed the matter ‘resolved’ and proposed a meeting on January 15 to return the House of Lords MP to power a day later.
But that latest attempt to quell tensions failed as senior MPs Mr Groth, Richard Riordan, James Newbury, Mr Battin and Bridget Vallence signed a petition to meet on Friday to bring the issue to a head.
The battle to manage Victoria’s opposition comes less than two years before a crucial state election that will see the Labor government – increasingly in line with voters – seek a rare fourth term.