Peter Dutton strode into the Mount Waverley Youth Centre to fire up his Victorian base and within two minutes of his speech, he mentioned newly minted state opposition leader Brad Battin.

The ascension of Mr Battin, an ex-police officer like Mr Dutton, marked a step right for the Victorian party and, Liberal MPs hope, an end to the Moira Deeming saga that has long distracted the state and federal outfits.