Victorian Liberal Party leader Michael O’Brien wields axe after failed spill attempt

Michael O’Brien has exacted his revenge on the partyroom’s chief plotter, while others have quit the frontbench.

Victorian Liberal Party leader Michael O’Brien has survived a leadership spill. Picture: David Crosling

Victorian Liberal leader Michael O’Brien has started wielding the axe after the failed leadership coup.

Leadership aspirant Brad Battin has been told he will be demoted from his frontbench positions.

And two other frontbenchers — Ryan Smith and Nick Wakeling — have quit the frontbench as Mr O’Brien seeks to regain control of the parliamentary party.

A bid for a leadership spill vote this morning failed 22 to 9, forcing Mr O’Brien to act against his enemies.

While Mr O’Brien was buoyed by the outcome, Mr Battin, 45, was clear that he intended to keep challenging for the role.

Michael O’Brien arrives at parliament on Tuesday morning. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Battin repeatedly refused to rule out running again for the leadership.

Mr O’Brien said the party room “strongly endorsed” his leadership. 

“I have an overwhelming majority and what it means is we are focused on Victorians,” Mr O’Brien said. 

He also made clear that there would be changes to his frontbench after the failed coup.

Mr O’Brien would not say if he would sack anyone, but said there had not been any resignations. 

“I am not going through those details now. As I said we will be making some adjustments to our frontbench team because we need to be a team,” he said. 

“We need to be pointing in the same direction. We will be making adjustments and I will announce them when I am ready to.”

Brad Battin. Picture: AAP

Matthew Guy. Picture: AAP

The fact Mr Battin, a low profile member of the Liberal team, managed to pull a total of nine votes will be of deep interest to his colleagues.

There are likely to be several other anti-O’Brien MPs who would back a change of leader if it were former leader Matthew Guy.

This raises the question of how many anti-O’Brien people could be united into a large grouping in any future ballot.

On the future, Mr O’Brien said he would support former Premier Jeff Kennett if Mr Kennett were elected as the party’s president. 

“Of course I will work with anybody that the party organisation chooses,” he said. 

Mr Battin said he respected the decision of the party room, but would not rule out making a tilt for the top job in the future. 

“I decided to put my hand up for the position of leader and to vote for a spill motion,” Mr Battin said. 

“The spill motion wasn’t successful … we must respect the decision the party room has put forward and that decision was well and truly (in favour of) Michael O’Brien,” he said. 

He said he had not quit the frontbench, but said he would have a “discussion” with Michael O’Brien later. 

“The party room today has spoken and they have supported Michael O’Brien,” he said.