Victorian Liberals to spurn Tony Abbott in November poll

THE Victorian Liberal Party has surrendered the prospect of Tony Abbott’s popularity improving in the nation’s second biggest state.

THE Victorian Liberal Party has given up hope of Tony ­Abbott’s popularity improving in the nation’s second-biggest state, guaranteeing a minor role for the Prime Minister in the ­November 29 state election.

And senior Liberals are calling for a senior Victorian member of the frontbench to become a defacto spokesman for the commonwealth in the southern capital.

While the Napthine government has dumped its strategy of publicly confronting Tony ­Abbott over his budget cuts, senior Liberals have ruled out any major role for Mr Abbott during the state campaign.

Senior Liberals have revealed that the state government will continue to embrace Canberra on big-spending initiatives, but distance itself from the unpopular budget measures that have dented Mr Abbott’s popularity.

Several senior Victorian Liberals have told The Australian that Mr Abbott, as a conservative NSW Prime Minister, was unlikely to gain traction in Victoria, despite his best efforts to campaign vigorously in the state ­before the 2013 federal election.

There is a strong view among many Liberals the Abbott government is suffering in Victoria because it lacks a senior, credible minister who has the ability and portfolio to talk ­widely across government issues.

A former federal front­bencher said the absence of a strong personality like former Treasurer Peter Costello appeared to be harming the Abbott government.

“Tony is unpopular, and there are complicated reasons for that, but we don’t have anyone who can fill Peter’s shoes,’’ the former minister said.

The issue of Mr Abbott’s unpopularity in Victoria is gaining traction in the Liberal Party as the organisation focuses its ­attention on the November 29 election.

Several senior party figures have told The Australian that there is no animosity towards Mr Abbott and that Premier Denis Napthine wants to maintain a strong relationship with the Prime Minister.

However, there was an acceptance that Mr Abbott would not be a campaigning positive for the government.

“The Prime Minister will be a part of the campaign, but he won’t be a big part of the campaign,’’ a senior government source said. “There isn’t going to be a fight or anything and he will be around, but the focus will be on Denis and the team.’’

The angst over Mr Abbott’s standing in Victoria comes ­despite a marathon pre-election effort to appeal to the Melbourne constituency.

The two most senior Victorian ministers are Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews and Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb. While Mr Robb is frequently overseas, Mr Andrews is often targeted by the left-wing media over his conservative social values.