‘We’re both former cops’: Brad Battin reveals why he admires Peter Dutton

The new Victorian Liberal leader believes he shares strong political values with Peter Dutton, as he prepares to campaign with the Opposition Leader at the federal election.

New Liberal leader Brad Battin at home in Berwick. Picture: Tony Gough

New Victorian Liberal leader Brad Battin believes he shares strong political values with Peter Dutton and is preparing to campaign shoulder to shoulder with the Opposition Leader in next year’s federal election.

In an interview with The Australian, Mr Battin said he admired Mr Dutton for taking strong policy positions during his three years as federal Opposition Leader and because both Liberal leaders were former police officers, they had a shared history.

“He is decisive. He goes through a process, makes a decision, and then sticks to that decision,” he said on Sunday.

“He’s articulate in defending his position when he has to … and I think people respect that.

“I know I do.”

Mr Battin revealed Mr Dutton telephoned him when he was appointed state Opposition Leader last Friday after the collapse of John Pesutto’s leadership in the fallout from his defamation case loss to Liberal MP Moira Deeming. He said the federal leader’s message was one of “congratulations, you have got an opportunity” and “it takes a lot of hard work in opposition”.

“(He said) you’ll have to make decisions that people don’t like, but you have got to do the right thing by what you see as the right direction to have any chance,” he told The Australian.

Mr Battin said he was looking forward to campaigning with Mr Dutton, particularly in Melbourne’s outer suburbs and growth corridors, which both leaders have identified as being central to the future of the Liberal Party.

“Yep, I would definitely share similarities with Peter Dutton,” he said. “The values we both hold resonate through the areas where people are aspirational. It’s the old Liberal Party we used to talk about … aspirational voters, ­people who are working hard and want reward for effort.

“They are the ones who have been neglected the most.”

Mr Battin, who spent his first weekend as Opposition Leader piecing together a new shadow cabinet that he expects to unveil in early January, said being a police officer was ideal preparation for political leadership.

Brad Battin in his police uniform at his 2001 graduation. Picture: Supplied

Peter Dutton in his police uniform. Picture: Supplied

“One of the greatest things you learn from policing is real-life experiences … you (have to be) willing to make decisions and it toughens you up, so you have to have a thick skin,” he said.

“I will be willing to work with Peter Dutton to get a federal Liberal government and the only message I gave him on the phone was we’ll always be happy to chat.”

Mr Battin said despite his support for Mr Dutton, there would likely be times when the two differed. “What’s in the front of his mind is what’s in the best interests of Australia, and what’s in the front of my mind is what’s in the best interests of Victoria,” he said.

During Liberal leadership tensions, internal rivals described Mr Battin as being from the party’s “right-wing conservative” faction; Labor is expected to focus its attack on him in this area.

Mr Battin said this description was an “extreme simplification” and he didn’t consider himself to be right-wing conservative but a politician with strong family values and a true believer in Liberal ideals. “It might suit an argument for someone trying to paint you into a position, but from where I come from I have family values … and a conservative economics background,” he said.

“Coming from business, every dollar in I want to make sure I get the most value out of it.”

New Liberal leader Brad Battin with his wife Jo at his house in Berwick. Picture: Tony Gough

Mr Battin said to describe him as a right-wing conservative was “ridiculous” and he was proud of his small business background. He owned and operated a Bakers Delight for three years.

Mr Battin said he was not a religious person. “I got baptised when I was 14, and went back to my local church recently for the first time in many years,” he said.

“I am not a religious person. We don’t have a religious family but we have family values that we all share.”

While Mr Battin has been careful to avoid making any “captain’s calls” on specific policies since taking over the leadership, he has identified Victoria’s crippling state debt, which is soaring towards $200bn, and budget deficits as priorities.

“If we don’t get the budget under control, every single other policy will fail and that’s what the government is facing right now,” he said.

“They can’t deliver services because they haven’t got the money.

“It will be our priority to ­ensure we can either grow the economy, which therefore makes state debt a lower concern, or find other ways we can make changes to stop the waste already in the system.”

A promise to order a wholesale review of state taxes in the lead-up to the 2026 Victorian election is also on the cards for Mr Battin. “It’s taxes that are preventing people from investing or creating jobs that need to be ­addressed first,” he said.