‘We have a very strong Coalition here in Victoria’: Danny O’Brien
State Nationals leader Danny O’Brien says his party won’t follow his federal counterparts and break away from the Liberal Party as he declares they are working toward “making sure we get rid of this terrible Labor government”.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Victorian Nationals leader Danny O’Brien has ruled out any plans to follow his federal counterparts and break away from the Liberal Party.
Mr O’Brien, who represents Gippsland South, said his party had a strong working relationship with the Victorian Liberals, who are banking on the partnership to help them win enough seats and defeat Labor at the 2026 state election.
Mr O’Brien said it was a matter for his federal counterpart, David Littleproud, to explain the decision to split from the Liberals in the wake of their bruising election loss.
“We have a very strong Coalition here in Victoria,” he said.
“We work really well together. We’ve got a good arrangement now with Brad and myself and all of our teams.”
Mr O’Brien said there had never been a greater need for a strong Coalition, as he took aim at the Allan government’s new emergency services levy, which has sparked a fierce backlash from regional Victorians and particularly farmers and firefighters.
“If anything is an education today, this budget and this protest against this new emergency services tax shows 100 per cent we need a strong Coalition alternative,” he said.
“The Liberals and Nationals will provide that alternative in November and we will stay strongly in Coalition and work very well in the next 18 months to make sure we get rid of this terrible Labor government.”
The Victorian Nationals won nine seats in the Legislative Assembly to the Liberal Party’s 19 seats at the 2022 state election.
With the Liberals picking up an extra seat after the Prahran by-election, the Coalition currently holds 29 seats in the lower house.
Brain surgeon guilty in sexual misconduct probe
Former Melbourne University professor of brain surgery Andrew Kaye became “fascinated” by a young woman before making an unwanted sexual advance.
How Labor has bled Victorians dry: State govt tax take revealed
Labor’s rigid tax regime is set to rake in almost $42bn by 2026 off the back of hurting Victorians, with the Allan government on track to hit $50bn in imposts by 2030 — 173 per cent more than when the party came to power in 2014.