Victorian Liberal Party: John Pesutto unveils shadow cabinet after 2022 election loss

The Victorian Liberal Party will undergo immediate internal reforms after its devastating election loss, party president Greg Mirabella has vowed.

Victorian Opposition leader John Pesutto has unveiled his shadow cabinet. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The Victorian Liberal Party won’t hold a review into its disastrous 2022 election campaign, but will instead begin work now on its 2026 effort.

It comes as new leader John Pesutto unveiled his first shadow cabinet on Sunday, ditching veteran MPs in favour of a younger new generation.

Sandringham MP Brad Rowswell, who has spent just six months on the opposition frontbench as energy minister, will take on the key role of shadow Treasurer.

He replaces David Davis who will now be responsible for the Arts portfolio as well as being named Shadow Special Minister of State.

Newly elected member for Kew, Jess Wilson, will work alongside Rowswell in the Coalition’s economic team as the new shadow minister for Home Ownership and Housing Affordability.

She is among four new MPs joining the front bench including tennis ace Sam Groth who will look after the Tourism, Sport, Events and Youth.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Matt Bach, has been elevated to the Education portfolio.

And member for Brighton, James Newbury, has been named Leader of Opposition Business in the Legislative Assembly as well as retaining his Environment and Climate Change portfolios.

Georgie Crozier remains shadow health minister, while Michael O’Brien remains shadow Attorney-General.

Brad Battin, who lost a leadership challenge to Mr Pesutto by one vote, adds the responsibility of Criminal Justice Reform to his police and corrections portfolios.

One of his key backers, Ryan Smith, was dumped from the shadow cabinet.

Mr Pesutto will look after the Multicultural Affairs Portfolio, signalling the area as a priority for the Opposition.

It comes as party president Greg Mirabella announced there would be no review into last month’s election.

In an email to Liberal Party members, Mr Mirabella said reviews were too often ignored.

“We had comprehensive reviews after the 2014 and 2018 state losses, and I’ve been briefed on the 2022 Federal loss review as well,” he said.

“Several of the campaign staff have spent the past week analysing the old reviews, as well as the ALP’s own review from 2019.

“As you might expect, so many of the “lessons” are the same, and so many of the recommendations seem to remain unimplemented.”

In the wake of the party’s 2018 election disaster a Liberal Party review blamed internal warfare, financial difficulties, dodgy polling, and a failure to sell a clear message to voters.

On the day of the election, 17 per cent of voters did not know who leader Matthew Guy was, while the Federal Party coup against Malcolm Turnbull was also blamed.

Mr Mirabella said it was critical to embed immediate lessons and observations into an “action plan” rather than another report.

“The biggest post-election task of all is to embark on some immediate organisational reforms.”

Former Liberal staffer Tony Barry said the generational shift evident in the new shadow cabinet was promising.

But he could for veteran MPs to retire now to make way for the party’s further renewal.

“There’s some really good new inclusions in shadow cabinet with Jess Wilson, Brad Rowswell, Sam Groth and Evan Mulholland,” he said.

“But at the moment we are still swimming in the shallow end of the talent pool with Floaties.

“The quickest and simplest way to be more competitive is for some of our older upper house MPs to retire early in this term and create casual vacancies for young, high-energy talent with shared values that are representative of the Victorian community.

“David Davis, Wendy Lovell and Bev McArthur have been great party stalwarts which is why I’m sure they will do the selfless thing and retire to make way for fresh talent and renewal.

“We need to pick up another 17 seats to win government so we can’t afford to have MPs do a lap of honour or treat it like a retirement home.”