Victorian Liberal Party president Greg Mirabella to stand down from top job

At least three potential contenders have emerged to replace outgoing Liberal Party president Greg Mirabella, who announced he will stand down to chase a Senate seat.

Victorian Liberal Party president Greg Mirabella will not seek another term. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

Several potential contenders have emerged to replace outgoing Liberal Party president Greg Mirabella, who will stand down next month.

The Herald Sun can reveal at least three potential candidates are considering nominating to fill the vacancy including former leader of the opposition in the upper house, Philip Davis.

Peter Clarke — a former party vice president from the Kennett era who is also close to former premier Ted Baillieu — is also considering nominating.

Other names to have emerged as potential challengers include Ian Quick, a senior member of the powerful administrative committee, and Ivan Stratov, a Mormon and key member of the religious right.

Mr Mirabella, who is hoping to return to the senate, announced his resignation on Tuesday just days out from Saturday’s Warrandyte by-election.

Mirabella has announced his resignation as Victorian Liberal Party president. Picture: David Crosling

The seat, which the Liberal Party holds with a 4.2 per cent margin, is considered the biggest electoral test for Opposition Leader John Pesutto since he took the job in December.

With no Labor candidate, Liberal candidate Nicole Werner remains a favourite to win the seat.

But any swing against the Liberal Party would be considered damaging to Mr Pesutto’s leadership, sources said.

In an email to members Mr Mirabella said it had been an “honour and a great responsibility” to serve the party.

He will stand down following next month’s State Council.

“This has not been an easy decision, but I do so in the context of my decision to seek pre-selection on the party’s senate ticket for the next federal election, and my wish to avoid any perception of conflict of interest.”

Mr Mirabella had come under fire from warring factions of the party in recent months, and suffered a particularly public attack from Mr Quick.

Addressing the party’s state council conference in May, Mr Mirabella urged warring factions within the party had to stop airing their grievances publicly.

“There is a cancer in the Liberal Party, it has been there for a long time,” he said.

“It is the propensity with which Liberals take their disputes, their grievances, their dislikes, to the media.”

Mr Mirabella said members generated tens of thousands of dollars worth of free advertising for the ALP through trashing the Liberal Party brand.

“This is a message that all members and all members of parliament must hear and must begin to act on. Now,” he said.

Werner is favourite to win the seat of Warrandyte. Picture: Ian Currie

In a post published to his private Facebook page — that was shared widely by Liberals — Mr Quick wrote a top-10 hit list critiquing Mr Mirabella’s work since taking over the presidency.

In his 700-word missive Mr Quick accused Mr Mirabella of failing to assist the party’s state election campaign, and negatively interfering in the failed federal Aston by-election.

He also accused him of failing to follow party procedures, and criticised his refusal to conduct a review into the November election.

“Greg was the president for the final three months of the state campaign, but did not seem to positively contribute to the campaign,” he said.

“Issues brought up were not addressed, including the postal vote mistakes that cost us at least 3 seats.

“He also cancelled regular admin meetings during the campaign, and even told the media that admin had no place in the campaign.

“There was no state election review. Greg refused to have one, saying the problems were well known. I disagree, there were a number of different issues in the 2022 state election and specific things that need to be investigated.

“Greg then wrote his own review of the state election, not show (sic) to or approved by admin, and sent it to the federal exec.

“Greg took no responsibility for anything at the state election, saying he ‘was a bystander’!

“This turns out not to be the case, as the party president he could have directed the state director to do/fix things, and if that didn’t work called an admin meeting to pass motions.”

The Warrandyte by election will be a key test for leader John Pesutton. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Mr Quick accused Mr Mirabella of being overly friendly with the media, failing to intervene in staffing issues, and bypassing proper process.

“Greg keeps saying he is a ‘reforming President’,” Mr Quick said.

“Yet in nine months he hasn’t changed anything, or suggested any changes! He appears to still be just complaining – including in the media – of all our problems and saying that we are unelectable.

“But no solutions or way forward has been suggested as far as I am aware.

“Unlike a previous president, Greg isn’t using admin as a rubber stamp, but it is worse as he is just bypassing it and assuming he has the authority to do whatever he likes.

“I disagree; the President is the Chair of Admin, not a sole autocrat.”

Work to oust Mr Mirabella from the top job by a group of the party’s conservative members escalated earlier this year following the party’s shock loss in the Aston by-election.

Mr Mirabella later told members the party was being crippled by a major brand problem that had made it unelectable.

“In the last 12 months the people of Victoria have made it perfectly clear that we are not electable,” he said.

“I think the major problem remains: us. Brand Liberal.”

Addressing the party’s State Council conference in May, Mr Mirabella said warring factions within the party had to stop airing their grievances publicly.

“There is a cancer in the Liberal Party, it has been there for a long time,” he said.

“It is the propensity with which Liberals take their disputes, their grievances, their dislikes, to the media.”

Mr Mirabella said members generated tens of thousands of dollars worth of free advertising for the ALP through trashing the Liberal Party brand.

“This is a message that all members and all members of parliament must hear and must begin to act on. Now,” he said.