Peter Reith tipped to take on Kroger for head of Liberal Party Victorian Division

FORMER Howard government minister Peter Reith is a step closer to challenging Michael Kroger for head of the Liberal Party’s Victorian Division.

Peter Reith is a step closer to challenging Michael Kroger for head of the Liberal Party’s Victorian Division. Picture: Kym Smith

• Victorian Liberal Party President Michael Kroger at war with fundraising entity

FORMER Howard government minister Peter Reith is a step closer to challenging Michael Kroger for head of the Liberal Party’s Victorian Division.

Mr Reith was on Monday night elected unopposed as a delegate to next month’s Liberal State Council, where he is tipped to run for president against the incumbent, Mr Kroger.

The packed meeting of the party’s Melbourne branch at the Imperial Hotel was expected to see a fight between Mr Reith and candidate linked to Mr Kroger for the delegate spot.

But the challenger, Anders Axelson, withdrew before the vote.

A Liberal source at the meeting said it had cleared the way for a Reith run.

Mr Reith now has until Thursday to decide if he will run against Mr Kroger.

On Sunday, he addressed a function in the Kooyong electorate of Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg, who is understood to be remaining neutral on the vote.

In a risky move, administrative committee member Marcus Bastiaan labelled the challenge “traitorous” on social media, which could be in breach of party’s rule.