Former Liberal leader Matthew Guy returns to Opposition frontbench

Former Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy has returned to the Opposition frontbench, while a broader cabinet shuffle has sparked confusion.

Matthew Guy led the Victorian Liberals to the 2018 election. Picture: David Crosling/AAP.

Matthew Guy has returned to the frontbench of the Opposition in a new-look Shadow Cabinet unveiled by the Liberal Nationals.

Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien on Sunday announced that Mr Guy, who led the Coalition at the 2018 election, would become part of the shadow ministry as part of a broader reshuffle.

The arrangement has also prompted some confusion, with Liberal Nationals now having 22 paid frontbench positions to share among 23 politicians in their Cabinet.

Mr Guy will take on the portfolios of finance, jobs and trade and business precincts while deputy Liberal leader Cindy McLeish will focus on tourism, major event and sports.

Croydon MP David Hodgett will be the Opposition’s spokesman for education, Gordon Rich-Phillips will handle the portfolios of government services, regulatory reform and the digital economy and Ryan Smith adds manufacturing and innovation to his responsibilities.

A newly created portfolio, public sector integrity and transparency, will be filled by David Morris.

Matthew Guy has been promoted back to the shadow cabinet. Picture: Alex Murray/AAP.

Speaking on Sunday, Mr Guy said the Andrews Government’s budgeted net debt, to reach $154.8 billion by 2023-24, would be a key concern.

“Adding $130bn of debt in just four years is quite astounding,” he said.

“This is the largest amount of debt being brought on by any state government in Australia’s history.

“While the Reserve Bank and others will say it's the right time … Its completely irresponsible to take on debt when you don’t have a plan to repay any of it.

”What we’ll be looking at is not how to stop projects which are debt funded, because that’s happening around Australia, but how to be responsible.”

Under parliamentary rules, money is allotted for 22 people to be on the shadow ministerial payroll.

But when asked about how this arrangement would work under his 23-person frontbench, Mr O’Brien said it was an internal party matter.

“Everyone who does the job will get recompense for it,” he said.

“The rules are quite clear, we’ll obey by all the rules.”

Out of the 23-person shadow cabinet, five of the leadership positions are filled by women.

But Mr O’Brien defended his record on female representation and said both the Liberals and Nationals had women in top-tier leadership roles at the very head of the party.

“When I became leader I appointed five new faces to the shadow cabinet and four of them were women,” he said.

‘Unlike Labor, both our parties have 50/50 representation at the top and are based on merit.”
Mr O’Brien said he was delighted to have the former Liberal leader back in his leadership team.

“It’s great to get Matthew back into what I regard as being an absolutely essential portfolio,” he said.

The reshuffle has caused a stir among the Opposition with some concerned Mr O’Brien was prioritising mates rather than promoting based on competence.

It’s acknowledged that some shadow ministers “are asleep on the job” having done little for their portfolios, and failing to stay in contact with stakeholders during the pandemic.

Some members were critical of Mornington MP David Morris, South Eastern Metropolitan MP Gordon Rich-Phillips and Rowville MP Kim Wells.

Accelerating, Mr Guy to the front bench was also seen as an acknowledgment that the Opposition have not been unable to lay a punch on Premier Daniel Andrews during the pandemic and that the Coalition needed a strong media performer – especially on the money side of things with both Mr O’Brien and shadow Treasurer Louise Staley unable to articulate the potent financial mistakes of the Labor Government.

Following the reshuffle announcement on Sunday, a small band of members have called for an in-person party room meeting next week when parliament sits.