Michael Kroger defends his leadership and rejects there are federal implications from Victoria

Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger defends his leadership and rejects there are any federal implications from Victoria.

Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Korger. Picture: David Caird

Under siege Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger says people claiming there are federal implications from the state election should “grow up” as he defended his leadership of the state organisation.

Mr Kroger, who has been urged to step down by his longtime foe Jeff Kennett, said people in Victoria were “more sophisticated” than thinking the result was to blame on the federal Liberals or his presidancy.

“Nick Greiner, the federal president, didn’t move on after Wentworth by-election did he? I mean was it Nick Greiner’s fault we lost Wentworth? No. I think a few of us are a bit more sophisticated than that,” Mr Kroger told Sky News.

“I see all this analysis about the feds, it is all the feds fault. I mean people ought to grow up. Was there a federal factor? Yes there was. Was it the major factor? Not by any means whatsoever. Is the (situation) federally retrievable? Of course it is. This is an election where we were beaten on policy.

Michael Kroger says he’s not feeling pressure to move on as Victorian Liberal Party President following the state election loss.

‘The Federal party President Nick Greiner didn’t move on after the Wentworth by-election.’

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— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) November 25, 2018

“People who say it has got to do with the state president or Nick Greiner or Fred Nerk or Harry the Clown or it is all about the feds. That is all nonsense. We were beaten on policy and Labor outdid us.”

Mr Kroger said Mr Andrews picked the political mood by vowing to increase debt levels with record infrastructure spending and other “freebies”, such as no-fee Tafe.

“This Premier Daniel Andrews has embarked on the biggest infrastructure spend Australia has ever seen. He has removed level crossings in big numbers it is a very visual sign of a government doing something,” Mr Kroger said.

“In addition to that he is saying there are no tax increases, no levies, no tolls, it is all for free. And every Victorian, whether in a Liberal seat or a Labor seat, loves a massive infrastructure spend.

Michael Kroger: Of course the Federal election is winnable. I would say to my colleagues who are running around saying it’s all the Federal Liberals fault - grow up. We were beaten on policy.

MORE: https://t.co/nCa56qqjCY #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/IzwTrzF2xM

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) November 25, 2018

“The Liberal Party quite frankly cannot compete with that. We cannot double the state debt as Labor is doing, spend another $50bn and run up these huge debts. That is not in the Liberal Party’s DNA.”

Mr Kroger pointed to the party’s relatively strong result in the state in the last federal election, with Victoria being the only state the Liberal Party made ground.

“It was an outstanding result in 2016, it wasn’t a good result in 2018,” Mr Kroger said.

“Is that an organisational failure? No of course not. What you have got is arguments about policy. Of course the federal election is winnable. And I say to my colleagues who are saying it is all the feds fault, grow up. This is just a nonsense.”