Jeff Kennett eyes return as Victorian Liberal leader Michael O’Brien faces vote
Jeff Kennett considers taking over Victorian Libs’ organisational wing as Michael O’Brien fights for his future.
Jeff Kennett is considering taking over the Victorian Liberal Party’s organisational wing as the state parliamentary leader fights for his future.
Mr Kennett has been urged to run as party president on a reform ticket in what would be a bombshell development in the embattled organisation.
“I am not ruling it in or not ruling it out,” Mr Kennett told The Australian.
The former Victorian premier’s backers are convinced he will run for the position in a move that would transform the organisation and sharply define the battlelines with Labor, but he has privately insisted he must first weigh up his already heavy workload.
“I am certainly not going back into parliament,’’ he said.
Before the presidency decision is made, state leader Michael O’Brien is fighting for his political future, with frontbench colleague Brad Battin and his supporters pushing for a leadership spill to be held on Tuesday morning.
Mr O’Brien, who appears to have support from several key MPs and has been in the job for just over two years, has vowed to fight for the position but the counting of the numbers will place significant pressure on his long-term hold on the position.
A former adviser to federal treasurer Peter Costello, Mr O’Brien has faced heavy internal pressure over his handling of the pandemic amid claims Labor has been allowed to prosper despite sparking a second wave that killed hundreds.
Mr Battin, a 45-year-old crime prevention spokesman, is part of the anti-O’Brien forces in the state opposition, which appear to have split over a run against Mr O’Brien.
Former leader Matthew Guy, who is close to Mr Kennett, had been widely tipped to run against Mr O’Brien but was resisting the move, multiple sources said.
He is not backing Mr Battin, nor are several other opponents of Mr O’Brien’s leadership.
Mr O’Brien said: “I’m confident that my leadership will be supported by my party, I don’t think the spill motion will get up.”
When asked what his message was to Mr Battin, he said: “I’m confident that my party leadership will be endorsed and supported by the party.”
Mr O’Brien appeared to have crucial support on Monday night from key frontbenchers, including upper house MP David Davis and health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier, who said: “I’m supporting Michael O’Brien.”
Victoria’s leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council Mr Davis said he would support Mr O’Brien in any leadership spill.
“Now is not the time for a leadership spill but I think Michael O’Brien deserves the support of the partyroom,” he said.
“It’s important a clear program be put forward by any alternative.”
Supporters of Mr Battin said he would provide a fresh face and a more down-to-earth and energetic approach to the leadership.
One MP said there was wide support for Mr Battin, who needs 16 votes in the partyroom to unseat Mr O’Brien, who has been in parliament since 2006. “Brad will win the vote, he will get the numbers,” a supporter said.
“He will hold Labor and Andrews to account.
Mr O’Brien has been criticised internally for failing to go hard enough against the Andrews government but he also has been hampered by community desire for the pandemic to be beaten.
There are mixed views about how the opposition should respond to Labor in Victoria as a result of the ongoing popularity of incumbent state governments.
Mr O’Brien, 49, will back the current state Liberal organisation leadership, headed by former state MP Robert Clark.
Mr Clark is close to Mr Kennett and may choose not to run if his former mentor were to do so. It has been rumoured for months that Mr Kennett would run for the presidency. He turned 73 this month and is still president of the Hawthorn Football Club.
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