Victorian Liberal State Director Sam McQuestin quits after election loss

Sam McQuestin’s resignation comes as Daniel Andrews waits for counting to be finalised following Saturday’s election before naming his new cabinet.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews hopes to hold a caucus meeting later this week to determine the make-up of his new cabinet. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Wayne Taylor

Victorian Liberal Party state director Sam McQuestin has announced he is stepping down, referencing “internal challenges” following the Coalition’s overwhelming loss to the Andrews Labor government in Saturday’s state election.

Mr McQuestin’s resignation comes as Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday said he hoped to hold a caucus meeting later this week to determine the make-up of his new cabinet, but the timing would depend on counting in several seats that remain in doubt.

With six seats still in doubt and a delayed election set to be held in a seventh safe Liberal seat following the death of the Nationals candidate, Labor has secured at least 52 seats, the Coalition at least 25, and the Greens four.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr McQuestin said he had advised the Liberal Party’s remuneration committee, which includes state president Greg Mirabella, on October 21 that he would not be continuing in his role regardless of the election outcome.

“While the election result was not what we wanted, it is a credit to the campaign team, Liberal leader Matt Guy and Nationals leader Peter Walsh along with their director, Matt Harris, that despite internal challenges, we were able to achieve a 3.5 per cent swing towards us, and likely improve our position in terms of seats,” Mr McQuestin said.

“I am particularly pleased with the outcome in the so-called teal seats, which in my view provides clear lessons for the party moving forward.

“I would like to thank all those who provided me with their support and loyalty over the three years I had the honour of being state director.

“Clearly, the Victorian division of the party is facing some significant challenges and I wish my successor – whoever that might be – all the very best.”

Also announcing his resignation on Tuesday was Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions secretary Simon Phemister, who will not seek to renew his expiring five-year contract.

Mr Phemister becomes the third of the three state departmental secretaries interrogated over their roles in the Andrews government’s 2020 hotel quarantine failures to stand down.

His resignation leaves just Mr Andrews and Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp as the only two of eight star witnesses who appeared at retired judge Jennifer Coate’s inquiry still in the roles they held when the fateful decision was made to hire private security guards.

A factional carve-up will ultimately determine the composition of the new cabinet.

Labor sources have told The Australian Shaun Leane, who holds the portfolios of veterans and Commonwealth Games legacy, could become a casualty of the waning influence of his factional grouping, which includes former allies of ex-Labor powerbroker Adem Somyurek, and former federal leader Bill Shorten.

Mr Leane is seen as the “weakest link” among his factional allies in cabinet, who include Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes, Education Minister Natalie Hutchins, Housing Minister Danny Pearson and Child Protection Minister Collin Brooks.

Planning Minister Lizzie Blandthorn is expected to be moved to a different portfolio as a result of perceived conflicts of interest between her role and her brother’s work as a lobbyist for property developers.

Little counting progress has been made since Sunday in crucial close seats, with the Victorian Electoral Commission focused on checking votes already counted.