Battin unveils new frontbench, with Deeming allies rewarded

Opposition Leader Brad Battin has defended John Pesutto’s shift to the backbench, insisting it was the former leader’s decision, and says the party room will be united under his leadership.

Some Pesutto allies have retained their positions or taken other portfolios, while many who backed Battin in the leadership contest have been rewarded for their loyalty.

Opposition Leader Brad Battin (centre) on Tuesday, with Nationals leader Danny O’Brien (left), finance spokeswoman Bridget Vallence and deputy Liberal leader Sam Groth.Credit: Paul Jeffers

While formally unveiling his new-look alternative ministry on Tuesday, Battin also cited the elevation of young women to the outer shadow ministry as evidence of progress, despite women making up only a third of the Coalition frontbench.

As reported on Monday night, Western Victoria MP Beverley McArthur has been elevated to cabinet, boosting the number of women on the Coalition frontbench from seven to eight. However, this still pales in comparison with Premier Jacinta Allan’s 21-person cabinet, which has a majority of women.

Battin said on Tuesday he was focusing on a “merit-based program” when building the team he would take to the November 2026 election.

Credit: Matt Golding

“But one of the things that we are very, very pleased to announce [is] that we’re actually putting in … youth and future leaders,” he said.

“We know that we’ve got a lot of work to do. It’s not just us. It’s all of politics. In the future, I assure you, we’ll have some of the best governments because of the fact that we’ve made this change.”

Among the fresh faces joining the outer shadow ministry is Nationals MP for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, who will become assistant health spokesperson.

Fellow first-term Liberal MP Nicole Werner, the representative for Warrandyte in Melbourne’s north-east, has landed the position of assistant spokesperson for youth and future leaders. Werner was one of the MPs photographed walking into parliament last month with Battin on the day he successfully challenged for the Liberal leadership.

Former Gippsland chiropractor Renee Heath, who represents Eastern Victoria in the upper house, is the new assistant spokesperson for multicultural affairs and victims of family violence. Heath is a friend of fellow upper house Liberal Moira Deeming, who was re-admitted to the party room the day that Battin became leader, weeks after winning her defamation battle against Pesutto.

Battin said it was Pesutto’s choice to sit on the backbench.

Battin (right) with colleagues (from left) Joe McCracken, Nicole Werner, Sam Groth, Bridget Vallence and Richard Riordan.Credit: Eddie Jim

“I’ve had a couple of discussions with John Pesutto. Obviously, you’re all aware, John’s had some difficult challenges. At the moment, John has opted not to come into the shadow cabinet. However, he is a strong part of our team,” Battin said.

He added that he was lucky to be able to lean on three former opposition leaders in his party room if necessary: Pesutto, public transport spokesman Matthew Guy and shadow attorney-general Michael O’Brien.

Guy was also handed the new portfolio of “transition to government” on Tuesday. Asked about that choice, given Guy had taken the Liberals to an election loss twice, Battin said it was all about the Bulleen MP’s almost 20 years of parliamentary experience.

Also receiving a promotion in Tuesday’s reshuffle was Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence, the former industry spokeswoman, who received the finance portfolio. Vallence was another MP photographed walking into parliament last week alongside Battin the day he challenged for the leadership.

Deputy Liberal leader Sam Groth and finance spokeswoman Bridget Vallence. Credit: Paul Jeffers

She was not the only Battin ally to be rewarded in the reshuffle. McArthur was given the local government portfolio, while Brighton MP James Newbury was awarded the coveted position of shadow treasurer. Upper house MP Joe McCracken was promoted to shadow cabinet secretary.

But it was not all bad news for Pesutto’s former loyalists. Sandringham MP Brad Rowswell, the former shadow treasurer, remains on the frontbench as the Coalition’s spokesman for digital transformation and the environment.

Former deputy Liberal leader and Pesutto ally David Southwick lost his transport infrastructure portfolio but remains in shadow cabinet as the spokesman for police, corrections and youth justice.

Nationals leader Danny O’Brien says the new team is ready to fight for the needs of regional Victorians. Credit: Paul Jeffers

“Rowswell going into the digital transformation [role] is a very important topic moving forward, so we can get those efficiencies across government. It’s really important that we can save money. And for David Southwick … we’ve put him in a portfolio in relation to one of the biggest issues here in Victoria,” Battin said.

Former finance spokeswoman Jess Wilson – who threw her hat into the ring on the eve of December’s Liberal leadership contest – retained the education portfolio and gained industry and economic growth in lieu of finance. Former upper house leader Georgie Crozier remains health spokeswoman. Both were staunch Pesutto backers until the eve of the leadership contest.

Rowswell, a Wilson backer, thanked his constituents on Monday afternoon for their support while he was shadow treasurer. In a message to local Liberal members, forwarded to The Age by a branch member, he suggested the Coalition would be united moving forward.

“It is clear that Victoria needs new leadership, and a change of government,” Rowswell wrote.

“I look forward to continuing to represent our local community, and to doing all I can to ensure a change of government at the next Victorian election, on 28 November 2026.”

Deeming was not appointed to the inner or outer shadow ministry on Tuesday, but Battin said she had a very important job of helping the party focus on the February byelection in Werribee.

Battin, a 49-year-old former policeman and small business owner, won the party leadership last month on his third attempt in four years. His pitch for next year’s state election is to target outer-suburban voters, toughen bail laws, slash taxes and fix potholes.

Tuesday’s reshuffle also included new management of the public land portfolio, given to upper house Nationals MP Melina Bath. Nationals leader Danny O’Brien took emergency services from the portfolio of Liberal Richard Riordan, who added planning to housing.

Labor minister Lily D’Ambrosio on Tuesday derided the new-look cabinet as the “Coalition cut squad”.

“Their No.1 priority will be to cut frontline services that Victorians rely on,” she said.

“We know that Brad Battin’s Liberal Party is not a united team. They are a divided team. Brad Battin’s taken 10 days since he took over the leadership of the opposition to come up with the shadow cabinet.”

D’Ambrosio also slammed the fact that the Coalition’s frontbench was less than 50 per cent women.

“That is a terrible representation of women. He’s only been able to fill eight of the 23 positions,” she said.

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