Matthew Guy reveals new Liberal Party chief of staff, Nick McGowan, to replace Mitch Catlin

Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy has been accused of “hiring a mate and covering his arse” after announcing his new chief of staff in the wake of a donor scandal.

Matthew Guy’s good friend, Nick McGowan, will become his chief of staff following the resignation of Mitch Catlin.

Mr Guy on Monday afternoon announced Mr McGowan — a candidate in the upcoming state election — had been promoted to the senior role.

“I am proud to call Nick a colleague and friend and look forward to working together to deliver real solutions for all Victorians,” Mr Guy said in a statement.

“Like so many Victorians, Nick understands the importance of the upcoming election and brings a total focus on delivering real solutions for all Victorians.

“Nick’s core beliefs are Liberal ones. He believes in equality, individual responsibility and reward for effort.”

But senior Liberals have hit out at Mr Guy’s decision to appoint an endorsed candidate for the role.

Victorian Liberal party leader Matthew Guy with his new chief of staff, Nick McGowan. Picture: David Caird

“Heads are shaking across the party room,” one party figure, speaking anonymously, said.

“It takes McGowan out of campaigning across northeast metro for three months.

“It looks like Guy is more interested in hiring a mate and covering his arse than winning an election.”

Others said the decision was a good one because of Mr McGowan’s experience in senior positions.

“He’s a good bloke. It’s a decent appointment,” another party source said.

Mr McGowan’s first order of business will be to develop a Code of Conduct for Opposition Staff in Victoria in the wake of the donor scandal.

Mr McGowan — who is a preselected Liberal candidate — won’t campaign for his personal election during his ordinary work hours, and will take leave when he lodges his nomination with the Victorian Electoral Commission, Mr Guy said.

He has previously served as Mr Guy’s chief of staff when he served as planning minister and was also the media director when Ted Bailleau was opposition leader.

Guy tight-lipped on donor scandal

On Monday, Mr Guy refused to answer ongoing questions about the donor scandal that resulted in the resignation of his chief of staff.

Asked if he knew if Mitch Catlin was still in Victoria, Mr Guy said: “I’m not answering that. That’s last week”.

He also refused to confirm whether he had spoken to Mr Catlin, who is rumoured to be interstate, since he resigned last Tuesday.

“I’m not talking about that at all, thank you,” he said.

Mr Catlin left his job in Mr Guy’s office after it was revealed he asked a wealthy Liberal Party donor to make more than $100,000 in payments to his private business.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy is grilled by reporters over the Liberal Party donor scandal. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The proposed contract would have seen Mr Catlin’s Catchy Media Marketing and Management company paid more than $8000 each month by the donor, in addition to his taxpayer-funded salary.

Mr Guy said he had not yet been contacted by any integrity agency since the matter was referred by the Andrews government.

He defended his decision not to answer questions about the matter.

“You go and have those conversations with Daniel Andrews when it comes to integrity. I’m going to beef up integrity agencies,” he said.

“Don’t ask me, you go and ask the Premier who has been the subject of three corruption commission investigations.

“Don’t ask me about hypotheticals. You go and ask me about fact.

“I’m not going to cop any more of this hypothetical.”