Victorians want Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien replaced with Matthew Guy

As pressure mounts on Michael O’Brien, a new poll has revealed more than a million Victorians have never heard of the Opposition Leader.

One-fifth of voters have not heard of state Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien, and the vast majority say they would prefer to see predecessor Matthew Guy back in the job.

The poll is expected to increase internal pressure on Mr O’Brien this week, with the embattled leader having already faced one challenge this year.

Another challenge has been mooted among MPs over recent weeks amid criticism over the party’s performance, as revealed in the Herald Sun on June 11.

Asked to choose whether Mr O’Brien or Mr Guy would be a better Victorian opposition leader, just 37 per cent of 1484 voters polled for the Herald Sun between June 12 and 15 backed the current leader.

Mr Guy was preferred by 63 per cent in the survey by bipartisan research and polling firm RedBridge.

Regarding their impression of Mr O’Brien, only 36.1 per cent said it was favourable, while 44 per cent said it was unfavourable and 19.9 per cent said they had never heard of him. But his likability numbers were higher among regional and older voters.

Matthew Guy resigned as leader of the Liberal Party after losing the 2018 election.

Mr Guy stood down as leader after suffering a crushing election loss in 2018. He has repeatedly ruled out any interest in reclaiming the top job.

But Liberal sources say there is a growing push to return Mr Guy to the leadership and believe he could be convinced to lead the party again.

It is believed recent attempts to gauge support for a shift found there still was not enough support among MPs for a change.

“This is not to say people are behind Michael,” one source said.

“It is a sign of a truly divided party that can’t agree on where to go next and who to back.”

Deep divisions were driven through the party in March after leadership hopeful Brad Battin called a vote to spill the Liberals’ leadership position.

Just nine of the party’s 31 MPs voted in favour of a spill motion. Mr Battin and backers Ryan Smith and Nick Wakeling all resigned from the opposition frontbench, sparking a reshuffle.

Victorian Liberal Party leader Michael O'Brien has already faced one challenge this year.

The failed bid was described as “politically stupid” by former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett.

But frustration with Mr O’Brien’s leadership has intensified amid external pressure from industry leaders, small business owners and branch members angry at the Opposition’s recent performance.

Among MPs he has been criticised as not being able to capitalise on the failures of the government, and running a dysfunctional office.

“The closer we get to 2022 the more people are getting nervous about the prospect of an election campaign,” one MP said.

Mr O’Brien has dismissed speculation of another leadership challenge as MPs return to parliament tomorrow for another sitting week.

Q: Who do you think would be the better Victorian opposition leader?

SCOMO, ALBO OUT OF FAVOUR WITH THOSE WHO KNOW THEM

Most Victorians have an unfavourable impression of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese, according to a new poll that suggests both leaders have work to do before the next federal election.

But while disapproval of the Prime Minister is higher among women and younger voters, the Opposition Leader has bigger problems, with nearly one in 10 Victorians not knowing who he is.

The poll by research firm RedBridge, conducted for the Herald Sun, found 46 per cent of Victorians had a favourable impression of the Prime Minister, compared with 49.5 per cent who had an unfavourable impression.

But while Labor holds 21 out of 38 seats in Victoria, only 37.8 per cent of voters surveyed had a favourable impression of Mr Albanese, compared with 53.3 per cent who reported an unfavourable view.

Disapproval of Scott Morrison is higher among women and younger voters.

Another 8.9 per cent said they did not know the Opposition Leader, who has held the job since Labor’s shock 2019 federal election loss.

The next election can be called from August, although Mr Morrison has consistently maintained it will be held next year.

The poll of 1484 Victorians, conducted between June 12 and June 15, found 54 per cent of male voters backed Mr Morrison, compared with 39 per cent of women.

Support for the Prime Minister was at its highest among older voters, with 59 per cent of Victorians aged over 60 saying they had a favourable view of him, compared with just 31 per cent of those surveyed aged 18 to 39.

Just under 9 per cent of voters in a recent poll said they did not know Anthony Albanese was the Opposition Leader.

About the same proportion of women and men had a favourable impression of Mr Albanese, although 11 per cent of female voters had not heard of him, compared with 6 per cent of men.

The survey identified a net negative impression of the Labor leader across all age demographics, including among Victorians aged 18 to 39, of whom a worrying 14 per cent did not even recognise his name.

Support for Mr Albanese was at its strongest in Labor’s western suburbs heartland, at 45 per cent, compared with 33 per cent in Melbourne’s east and 42 per cent in regional Victoria.