Matthew Guy in pole position to pick up opposition leader’s position

MATTHEW Guy is the frontrunner to lead the Victorian opposition through the critical rebuilding phase.

OUTGOING Liberal planning minister Matthew Guy is the frontrunner to lead the Victorian opposition through the critical rebuilding phase.

Former premier Jeff Kennett yesterday endorsed Mr Guy as the MP best placed to run the party in opposition but there is still some support for outgoing treasurer ­Michael O’Brien.

Liberal frontbencher Ryan Smith is expected to nominate to run as deputy to Mr Guy but party figures are also backing a senior role for Liberal elder Robert Clark, who yesterday fronted the media for the Coalition after the election defeat. It is expected that Mr Clark will nominate for the deputy’s role, with the view of him acting as a mentor for the leader of the day.

Mr Kennett told The Australian yesterday that Mr Guy had a strong political pedigree and would be a positive influence on the party. Mr Guy, 40, was one of the most prominent ministers in the Napthine government and previously worked in senior advisory positions with the then state Liberal opposition and the federal Coalition.

Asked if Mr Guy would be the best choice, Mr Kennett said: “In my opinion, yes, and I say that ­because he understands politics, he loves politics.’’

Neither Mr Guy nor Mr O’Brien, 43, responded to questions from The Australian.

Outgoing premier Denis Napthine is also expected to act as a mentor for whoever takes over the leadership this week. Dr Napthine will remain in parliament until the end of the four-year term.

Outgoing community services minister Mary Wooldridge said at the weekend she did not believe that it was set in stone that Mr Guy would be made leader.

She was forced to contest an upper-house seat after her lower-house seat was abolished in a redistribution. She was once considered a potential leader but Mr Guy and Mr O’Brien are now seen as the party’s future.

The complicating factor is that the men are rivals and whoever wins the leadership will have to contend with the ­inevitable pressure of an ambitious colleague in the partyroom.

Senior Liberal sources said that Mr Guy had assiduously worked the backbench for several years and that Mr O’Brien had “a lot more ground to pick up’’.

“Matthew has spent a lot of time courting people and has stronger, cross-factional backing,’’ one MP said.

“This is not something that just happens overnight: it can take years to get the trust of people.’’

There is a strong view in sections of the party that Mr Guy could have won the premiership in March last year if it had gone to a ballot and not effectively been handed to Dr Napthine.

This is because Mr Guy was in the upper house and had secured a strong support base, and had been working the lower-house MPs as well.

It is unclear whether both Mr Smith and Mr Clark will run for the deputy’s position, with the likely preference being that one or the other gets a clear run.

Mr Smith was environment minister in the Napthine government and Mr Clark served as attorne­y-­general.