Battle looms as Ted Baillieu bows out before election

FORMER Victorian premier Ted Baillieu announced yesterday he would quit politics.

FORMER Victorian premier Ted Baillieu announced yesterday he would quit politics, exposing the Liberal Party to an untimely and potentially messy preselection ballot in the run-up to the November 29 election.

Mr Baillieu rang his closest ­allies yesterday to say he would no longer run. The surprise move raised serious questions why he had not surrendered his seat earlier to resolve a damaging pre­selection battle in a nearby seat.

Several high-profile Liberals have been mooted as candidates for his safe inner-eastern Melbourne seat of Hawthorn, including two ministers and the head of the Institute of Public Affairs, John Roskam.

Health Minister David Davis yesterday would not rule out running in the seat from the upper house and Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge refused to comment.

John Pesutto, the incumbent premier’s legal counsel, is ­expected to contest the seat.

There has been speculation for months that Mr Baillieu, 61, would resign close to the election in an attempt to engineer installing a candidate of his choice. On that basis, Mr Pesutto would be the early favourite although Mr Davis would be a wildcard if he were to run.

In March Ms Wooldridge was forced to contest an upper-house seat in the coming election after losing a preselection ballot for the inner-eastern lower-house seat of Kew. Some of her supporters had wanted Mr Baillieu to stand aside to allow her a lower-house seat.

Mr Baillieu was a highly factionalised leader but earned respect for his normally gentle and respectful manner. He entered parliament in 1999 and led the party from 2006. He won the 2010 election and remained premier until March last year, when he was forced out amid turmoil over balance-of-power MP Geoff Shaw.

He had been a close ally and factional enforcer for former premier Jeff Kennett but the two fell out last year amid Mr Kennett’s frustrations with Mr Baillieu’s leadership of the state.

Mr Baillieu’s legacies include starting an overhaul of the Victorian budget in 2012 and backing a parliamentary inquiry into child-sex abuse, which was a trigger for the national royal commission. He also brought the Coalition parties together.

“I have not sought a frontbench position and do not harbour a desire to return to the ministry,’’ he said. “On reflection, now is the right time to step aside and provide an opportunity, in time for the party to ­select a fresh face.”

Premier Denis Napthine and Deputy Premier Peter Ryan praised Mr Baillieu’s contribution. Victorian Liberal president Tony Snell said he had towered over the party.

The preselection will probably be decided by the party’s administrative committee, which will meet on Monday to decide whether to conduct a local vote.