Matthew Guy returns to lead Victorian opposition after spill motion

Returned opposition leader Matthew Guy says he can “absolutely” win next year’s state election as he reveals his plan to lift lockdown restrictions.

Less than three years after leading the Liberal Party to a historic election loss, Matthew Guy has successfully challenged for leadership of the party.

Mr Guy on Tuesday toppled Michael O’Brien for the job, after a spill motion was moved by Kew MP and close ally Tim Smith.

It was carried 20 to 11, with Mr O’Brien pulling out of the race at that point and deciding not to contest the leadership.

Returned Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has reiterated calls for Melbourne's curfew to be scrapped and senior students to be back in the classroom as he outlines why he sought to take back control of the Victorian Liberals.

Mr Guy said the party room meeting that led to his election had included an agreement among MPs of key principles for the state’s pandemic recovery.

This included a belief that curfews should end immediately and that Year 11, 12 and university students should be back learning in person.

Matthew Guy ousted Michael O’Brien as Liberal Party leader on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Pandemic health advice would also be fully released to the public, in line with previous Coalition pledges over the past 12 months, and limited social interaction allowed in low risk conditions outdoors.

Opening up Victoria must happen as soon as the state reaches the 70 per cent and 80 per cent vaccination targets agreed at national cabinet.

When asked what separated him from ousted Michael O’Brien, he said he would provide a “clear plan” over the next 100 days.

“I won’t do all of that on day one, you wouldn’t expect me to,” he said.

Mr Guy said Victorians were yearning for the next election to be a contest and pledged that it would be.

“Victoria is not a one-party state,” he said.

In an interview with Neil Mitchell on 3AW on Tuesday, Mr Guy said he was concerned about a “huge mental health challenge” for children along with catching up on home learning, reducing hospital waiting lists and the future of small businesses.

Mr Guy said he “absolutely” thought he could win the next election.

“Don’t ever think that you can’t front up to an election and you can’t win it.

“Go and ask (Western Australia Premier) Mark McGowan who lost by more than me and overturned that in one go to a very large majority.”

He said more details of his policies would be outlined on Tuesday, with a focus on positive messages.

“They (Victorian leaders) need to stop scaring the hell out of people,” he said. “We’ve got to stop blaming others.”

Mr Guy said he thought elements of the state’s lockdowns had been too harsh, including playground bans and Victorians being unable to get back into their state.

Matthew Guy after taking the leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party from Michael O’Brien. Picture: David Crosling

“There are things we will agree with this government on,” he said. “I want to work with the government to get us out of this mess.

“We need to encourage people to get vaccinated, we need to encourage people to obey the rules because they are there for a reason.”

Shadow police minister David Southwick was elected deputy leader, after beating shadow treasurer Louise Staley in a vote.

The opposition’s shadow cabinet will be determined later this week, with Mr Guy to speak to Mr O’Brien about whether he would seek a frontbench role.

“I’d like him to do that and I’ll have a chat to him,” he said.

The opposition leader said he had been humbled by the 2018 election result but said the voters were always right and he had learned from the experience.

When asked if he would be haunted by his lobster dinner with an alleged mobster, he said everyday Victorians at home schooling their children were not as concerned and had other priorities.

“But I fully expect a Labor Party dirt unit campaign to come out in force,” Mr Guy said.

“That’s when they seem to be focused on beyond solving the problems of our state.”

Mr O’Brien replaced Mr Guy in December 2018 after the Liberals’ stunning election loss.

He had already faced a leadership challenge this year amid growing concern about his ability to contest the 2022 election.

Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday Matthew Guy knows how much of an honour it is to lead your party. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

PREMIER, GREENS LEADER RESPOND TO SPILL

Daniel Andrews said he would send his “best wishes” to Michael O’Brien.

“This will be a very, very difficult day for him and his family,” the Premier said.

He confirmed that he hadn’t yet reached out to Matthew Guy after Tuesday morning’s spill.

“Matthew doesn’t need me to congratulate him on being elected to lead his party. He’s done it before, he knows exactly how much of an honour it is,” Mr Andrews said.

“It’s a great honour to lead your party.”

When asked if the state government would work alongside Mr Guy and a revamped Liberal party to bring Victoria out of the pandemic, Mr Andrews said: “We’re working very hard to deliver the national plan, that’s the plan that I’m focused on.

He added: “I work for the people of Victoria, and if anyone wants to join me in working for the people of Victoria, I’ll gladly welcome them.

“I think all Victorians should work together … This virus doesn’t discriminate based on who you vote for. This virus is everybody’s business.”

It comes as Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam slammed the Liberal party for playing “petty playground politics” during a crisis.

“It proves once again that they’re not fit for Opposition, and they’re not fit for office,” she said.

“In the midst of a pandemic, where we should be looking after Victorians, the Liberal party shouldn’t be playing games like this.

“We need parties and members in this Parliament that will work constructively, that will put big ideas on the table, and hold the government to account.

“Yet they have re-elected someone who exploited the fears of Victorians, dehumanised and demonised our multicultural communities during the last state election, and preferred to do deals with his developer mates than looking after Victorians.

“In a pandemic we need members of parliament that are going to look after Victorians, not just their special interests. This is a really bad day for Victorian democracy.”

Ms Ratnam said it was crucial that all members of parliament worked constructively for the benefits of all Victorians.

“At a time when Victorians need support and a bold vision for our future, the Liberals seem more concerned with petty playground politics than actual leadership.

“While it was hard to think how they could get worse, they just have.

“Victorians deserve better from their politicians.”

Michael O’Brien arriving at the leadership spill, where he was ousted. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Guy thanked Mr O’Brien and said the role of opposition leader was the hardest job in the politics.

He said the Liberals would focus on a positive plan.

“We will have a clear alternative for Victorians and we will begin to articulate that today,” he said.

“A plan not just for lockdowns, but for recovery. Victoria’s best days are ahead of it, not behind it.”

Speaking outside Liberal party headquarters, Mr O’Brien urged the party to get behind Mr Guy as leader.

He thanked Victorians for allowing him into their lives, along with his family, staff and the state’s Liberal members.

“It’s important for Liberals to now be united,” he said.

Mr O’Brien said the result was disappointing but he had been faced with a choice of giving up his job or his integrity.

“I’ve never been the sort of person to play political games … I wasn’t prepared to change that,” he said.

“I’ll sleep very soundly knowing that.”

Mr O’Brien said he would recontest the seat of Malvern at the next election.

It comes after speculation he would leave politics after losing the vote.

Matthew Guy and his supporters ahead of his successful challenge. Picture: David Crosling

HOW LEAD-UP TO SPILL UNFOLDED

Mr O’Brien on Monday refused to bow to intense pressure to resign from the role “for the good of the party”, in return for a key role in the shadow cabinet.

Despite being lobbied by ­financial backers, business leaders and senior party figures to step aside and make way for the return of Mr Guy, he instead decided to push ahead with the Covid-safe showdown.

Both sides on Monday night claimed they had the votes necessary to win.

MPs in Mr Guy’s camp were expecting to have two-thirds of the 31-person party room supporting a change in leadership.

But O’Brien’s backers were stating the result could come down to the wire.

Sources said a key group of MPs who had until Monday remained loyal to O’Brien, feared that, even if he won by a narrow margin, he would still be in the gun for another challenge this year, causing further damage to the party’s standing until the issue was resolved.

Matthew Guy successfully challenged for the leadership of the party on Tuesday morning. Picture: David Caird

Outside his house in Melbourne’s outer east on Monday, a relaxed Mr Guy said “time will tell” whether he had the numbers to topple the leader. “I can’t really comment on that, that’s a party matter, but I hope we meet tomorrow and we’ll see if everything is ­resolved,” he said.

“We’ll wait and see.”

Mr O’Brien said it was time to put the issue to bed.

“Victorians want the Liberal party focused on Victorians and not on ourselves,” he said.

Key Liberal MP Brad Battin appeared to offer Mr Guy a major boost, publicly stating: “I am supporting change.”

The former shadow minister’s support was expected to be pivotal because he garnered nine votes when he challenged Mr O’Brien in March, when Guy’s supporters backed the incumbent.

Mr Guy and Kew MP Tim Smith stepped down from their positions in Mr O’Brien’s shadow cabinet on Monday morning as tensions escalated.

They were quickly joined by waste and government scrutiny spokesman James Newbury and party whip in the lower house Bill Tilley.

Michael O'Brien refused to bow to intense pressure to resign from the leadership. Picture: David Crosling

Partyroom figures who were sent to the backbench after supporting Mr Battin’s spill earlier this year were ­believed to be firmly in Mr Guy’s camp.

“Michael’s situation is now untenable,” one source said.

“He’s being urged by all quarters that he should stand aside for the good of the party.

“But his personality is to fight. If he fights, he loses.”

One Liberal MP, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described Mr Guy as a “shrewd political operator”.

“He wouldn’t have pulled the trigger unless he was absolutely certain that he had the numbers behind him,” the MP said. “I think the writing is on the wall in terms of where the numbers sit.”

The MP added that it was “probably time” for the party to be led in a different direction and said a new leader was its best shot at winning the next election.

“We’ve got to get refocused. That’s the key right now,” the MP said.

“We have been quite divided for some time. There’s definitely been a lack of unity.”

Another MP, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they were “very confident” Mr Guy would win. “You never know for sure until it happens though. Momentum is a big thing,” the MP said.

Sources close to Mr O’Brien said he was incensed by the challenge, with his office “blindsided” by the move.

But other Liberals said the challenge should not have come as a surprise, as Mr O’Brien had been on notice since March’s failed coup.

In March, after the unsuccessful spill, Mr Guy said: “We have a leader. It’s Michael.

“Michael will be there at the election and we’ll fight this thing out with him.”

But colleagues concerned at Mr O’Brien’s continued “failure to land a blow” on Mr ­Andrews ultimately convinced Mr Guy to step in to prevent an election wipe-out in 2022.

At least three people were believed to be keen on the position of deputy in the event of a successful spill: David Southwick, Ryan Smith and Louise Staley.