Backroom Baz: Western Metro preselection shaping as referendum on Liberals’ future

A rift continues to split the Liberal Party as the Western Metropolitan Region preselection looms. Will extreme conservatives prevail or will the party reset as a mainstream movement with a future?

The looming preselection in Liberal MP Moira Deeming’s Western Metropolitan Region is being dubbed by some as a referendum on the party’s future.

“Will the extreme-Conservatives prevail, preselecting Deeming for a further four years, cementing their control over the party, and ensuring its eventual demise through ultraconservative policies, or will they lose, thus enabling the party to reset as a viable and mainstream Liberal movement with a future,” said one figure central to the contest.

That might be overstating it a tad. Moderate Liberals have vowed to challenge Deeming for the number one spot on the party’s ticket, but those close to the Deeming camp say she has more than enough support to survive any attempt to knock her out of parliament.

The looming preselection has the Liberal Party divided. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Deeming does indeed enjoy popular support in the west, something appreciated by Opposition Leader Brad Battin who last week appointed her his leader in the that area. It was an appointment that caused much upset within parliamentary ranks, especially after Deeming appeared on Sky News shortly after the announcement where she appeared to speak on behalf of Battin on the controversial trans issue.

Some fear efforts by former leader John Pesutto to make the party mainstream have been all but torched through Battin’s support for Deeming. Others hope it's the case. Such is the rift that continues to split the party.

History will judge who is right. As always, it will be all down to the numbers.

Allan unpopular, but not unknown!

She might not be popular, but don’t dare accuse Jacinta Allan of being unknown! On the contrary, it seems Allan is, like her predecessor, known nationwide, if this billboard in Brisbane is any indication.

It was snapped by RedBridge director Kos Samaras this week whose latest polling has the Premier’s approval rating at -35, the worst in the country and twice as bad as Peter Dutton’s.

Any wonder then that the Liberal Party is not only linking her to Anthony Albanese right around the country, but spending megabucks to do so.

Liberal Party is not only linking Allan to Anthony Albanese right around the country and spending megabucks to do so. Picture: Kos Samaras

To put her popularity into context, Dominic Perrottet was net positive before he lost the NSW election, Scott Morrison was -27 before he lost the keys to the Lodge and Steven Miles was -11 before losing in Queensland.

Now as for being unknown, that’s a problem for Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin, who is unrecognisable to two thirds of Victorians. Ouch.

Political differences nothing for powerhouse duo

Elvis Presley sang about true love travelling on a gravel road. On Spring St, it travels on the federal election campaign trail.

Baz spotted loved up MPs Josh Burns, fighting to hold on to his federal seat of Macnamara for the ALP, and Victorian Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell on the booths this week, campaigning for different parties, spruiking very different policy platforms.

Elvis did say “we’ll stay together no matter how strong the wind blows”. Picture: Supplied.

But political differences are nothing new for the powerhouse duo, with Jewish Burns a staunch Zionist and Purcell firmly in the pro-Palestine camp. Love really can transcend all boundaries.

Dimo doing the numbers

Talk of any leadership threat to Jacinta Allan has become muted somewhat in recent weeks as all eyes turn to the federal election and subsequent fallout. But that doesn’t mean Labor operatives have stopped planning for a potential new world order that doesn’t include Allan at the top of the food chain.

Word has reached Baz that minister for fun, Steve Dimopoulous, is being encouraged to run for leader should Allan be wedged out of the Premier’s office. And while Baz hasn’t received a call from the top performing minister just yet, he has been reliably informed that Dimo has started to sound people out about whether a campaign for the top job would have any support.

Interesting, given Dimopoulos is without question one of Allan’s most loyal defenders both privately and publicly. In politics, stranger things have happened. Watch this space.

All eyes on leading Liberal lights

With the federal Liberals tanking in the polls and facing the prospect of a miserable election night, thoughts are already turning to a handful of standout candidates who might fall short on May 3. In particular, who among them could be converted into state candidates at next year’s general election.

Kooyong’sAmelia Hamer is eyeing off a run in Hawthorn if John Pesutto leaves parliament, while talk has begun about getting Corangamite candidate Darcy Dunstan to run in the state seat of South Barwon, currently held by expelled Labor MP Darren Cheeseman.

All eyes are on Liberal leaders like Amelia Hamer. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake

Dunkley candidate Nathan Conroy, McEwen hopeful Jason McClintock and Macnamara’s Benson Saulo are also being watched closely as candidates who could be crucial to electoral success at the 2026 Victorian election if they don’t succeed on May 3.

Guess who?

Which senior public servant is rumoured to have taken time away from a major cost cutting project to holiday in Acapulco, Mexico? Or was it a case of mistaken identity?

Overheard

Pope Francis was a leader of the Church, and a leader of the world. He believed that caring for the sick was part of the Church’s essential mission – and that compassion for the vulnerable was core to the human condition.

— Premier Jacinta Allan pays tribute to the late pontiff

Got any scuttlebutt for Baz?

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Originally published as Backroom Baz: Western Metro preselection shaping as referendum on Liberals’ future