Latest blow to Matthew Guy’s campaign

Another staffer has abruptly left Opposition Leader Matthew Guy’s office, with insiders divided over what prompted the sudden departure.

A third staffer has departed Matthew Guy’s office following the high-profile exit of his chief of staff and director of communications.

The Opposition Leader’s diary manager has departed the role, with insiders divided about whether the staffer had quit or been fired.

Their role has now been replaced.

It is the third person in Mr Guy’s office to depart over the last week following a scandal which saw Mitch Catlin resign as chief of staff.

He stepped away after leaked emails showed a proposal for a party donor to top up his salary and was replaced by Nick McGowan, a longtime friend of Mr Guy.

On Wednesday, director of communications Lee Anderson also left his job.

Mr Anderson, a former executive producer for 7 News, abruptly left his job as Mr Guy’s director of communications little more than 100 days before the state election, leaving Liberal MPs stunned.

Sources said Mr Anderson quit his role after disagreements with Nick McGowan, who has just started in the chief of staff role after replacing Mr Catlin.

One Liberal source said “they didn’t see eye-to-eye” and had a handful of differences on major issues.

Nick McGowan has replaced Mitch Catlin as Mr Guy’s chief of staff.

It’s the latest blow to Mr Guy’s campaign. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

There had also been internal angst over an awkward interview Mr Guy had done with 3AW’s Tom Elliot, which had exacerbated the donor fallout.

Due to the disagreements, sources said that Mr Anderson felt he could not “give 100 per cent” to the job and it was time to step away.

Another critical factor was that he had been working away from home, with his wife living in Tasmania while he has been based in Victoria.

Mr Anderson will be replaced by Alex Woff, who already works in the opposition’s media team.

Anja Wolff will be promoted to deputy director of communications.

Despite the upheaval, senior Liberal MPs maintained they still had what it took to topple Premier Daniel Andrews in November.

Georgie Crozier and David Davis – both integral members of the Liberal leadership team – were on Wednesday left to defend questions about the shock resignation.

Ms Crozier denied Mr Anderson’s departure had been triggered by a disagreement and said the existing communications team – while less experienced – could still get the job done.

“The election is just a few months away and there is a very hungry young team in Matthew’s office that is taking up the charge,” she said.

“Lee was awesome. We all loved Lee. Lee has made his decision. It’s a personal decision.”

Despite Mr Guy facing calls from some to resign, Ms Crozier said the leader would still be in the role come election day.

Labor seized on the news on Wednesday, calling another press conference to attack the Coalition.

Government Scrutiny Minister Danny Pearson said Liberal MPs needed to have a “good hard look” at if Matthew Guy was fit to lead the state.

Mr Pearson, who referred the donor scandal to several integrity and enforcement agencies last week, said Mr Guy needed to front the media to answer further questions about the proposed scheme.

“We know that the two most senior aides in Matthew Guy’s office have quit in the last nine days. I know it might be difficult for Matthew Guy to arrange a press conference when he’s lost his media director, but the fundamental questions still have not been answered,” he said.