Michael O’Brien survived a leadership challenge but it was hardly a ringing endorsement

Michael O’Brien survived a leadership challenge but it was hardly a ringing endorsement — and now his party needs to focus on the future.

After the spectacular own-goal of Tuesday’s ham-fisted challenge, the divided Victorian Liberal Party must end the bickering and focus on building a policy platform that can finally make it competitive.

That’s the view of party insiders who say all MPs must band together if they have any hope of improving their prospects at the November 2022, state election.

Of course, that’s unlikely to happen. There’s far too much disunity in the ranks for Michael O’Brien to garner the total support of his troops. But these key steps will help put the party back in the race.

1. LOCK O’BRIEN IN OR DITCH HIM QUICK

O’Brien may have emerged from his first coup attempt triumphant, but the warning shots have been fired. And he knows there are other challengers waiting in the wings. Nine people voted to bring on a leadership spill, hardly a ringing endorsement of O’Brien’s ability. Those that didn’t back the move don’t necessarily back O’Brien. They just weren’t confident now was the time for change, or there was a better option.

But further destabilisation will only keep the Liberals off track, with their chances of winning in 2022 becoming less with every month of disunity.

The drubbing the Liberals suffered at the WA polls at the weekend is a warning that chopping and changing leaders unless you have a better alternative isn’t a solution. So the sitting MPs must decide quickly whether they’re going to unite behind O’Brien, or put him out of his misery and move on.

Michael O’Brien won the leadership vote but it was hardly a ringing endorsement. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

2. TELL US WHO YOU ARE, MICHAEL

One of the greatest criticisms levelled at Michael O’Brien is that he fails to cut through. A common complaint is that people don’t know who he is, or what he stands for. There’s growing angst about his intensely private nature, with MPs also frustrated at his level of interaction with them. Concern has also been raised about his failure to tell his story to boost public appeal. Rarely, if ever, does he talk about his home life, wife, or family, publicly.

In his first remarks after fending off Battin, O’Brien broke with this long standing aversion, speaking of his wife, and the importance of family.

It was a move that shocked colleagues. And a sign as clear as any that O’Brien knows he needs to change.

3. BUILD MP’s PROFILES

Another problem is the failure of key MPs to build their own profile, or be given the chance to do so. The first question many Victorians asked when Battin’s coup plans were revealed was “who’s that?”And yet as a key frontbencher responsible for roads, youth justice and crime prevention, Victorians should have known his face.

The problem here is two fold. Insiders say the majority of opposition MPs need to lift their game and start pulling their weight, and in turn make a name for themselves.

But O’Brien has also come under internal pressure to let MPs do more and hold more press conferences in a bid to build their profiles.

Brad Battin like other Liberal MPs has a low profile. Picture: David Crosling

4.BROADEN THE BASE

A key concern among senior figures is the party’s inability to connect with the community beyond their core voters. Senior figures say the party must do more to engage with minority groups and the regions, or risk losing even more seats at the next election.

It also needs to start attracting a more diverse range of potential candidates, and many more women. They say the internal bickering has meant some of the skill base has been lost over the last five to 10 years and work must get underway to get it back.

5. ADMIN OVERHAUL

The current party administration is regarded by many as docile and ineffective.

There’s a mood for change, and the ushering in of a more aggressive administration ready to embark on a serious campaign. Rumours that Jeff Kennett is considering running for presidency has sparked hope among sections of the party. O’Brien has vowed to work constructively with him if that were too happen.