David Southwick: ‘If you don’t learn from results, then you never go forward’

Senior Victorian Liberal David Southwick says there are valuable lessons from Saturday’s results and he says the party has to step up its game if it wants to win the 2026 state election.

A Senior Victorian Liberal has conceded that the state party must “do better” to beat the Allan government after Saturday’s horror election result.

Shadow minister for police and member for Caulfield David Southwick, on Tuesday admitted the opposition could not rely on bad Labor government polling, and the party had to step up its game if it wants to win the 2026 state election.

Mr Southwick told media he “certainly didn’t expect that kind of result”.

“I mean, I thought it was always going to be hard for the Liberals to win the election, and it was surprising, no question.

David Southwick says the Liberal Party must ‘do better’. Picture: Diego Fedele

“But, and I think anybody, no matter who you are in politics, you kind of, it’s bit like barracking for your football team. They might be losing each week, but next week, you think they’re going to win, and you’re working hard, you’re putting your heart and soul into ensuring you can put the … best things forward.

“If you don’t learn from results, then you never go forward. And I think that’s what we need to do. We all need to learn from results. We all need to do better, and we all need to ensure that we’re putting voters first.

That’s what counts.”

It comes after Victorian Liberal Leader Brad Battin, showed a brave face on Monday claiming that he was more stunned by Jack Crisp missing a goal against Geelong on the siren than he was about the Liberals crushing loss.

However, he admitted “we’re learning that we have to listen more”.

Brad Battin says ‘we have to listen more’. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Party insiders have said that the loss has been a huge jolt for the state opposition, which have so far unveiled very little policy for the state election.

The party has also been dealing with internal struggles.

Victorian Liberals who have been buoyed bad polling for the Allan government in recent months told the Herald Sun Sun the federal result was a “wake up call”.

Late last year the Allan government was dealt a major blow with polling showing voters were turning away from Labor in huge numbers.

Premier Jacinta Allan with the Labor faithful at Trades Hall in Carlton on federal election night. Picture: Ian Currie

In February, Labor copped a massive swing against it in the Werribee by-election.

The by-election result had put Jacinta Allan’s premiership into question, with party insiders had been doing the numbers.

At the time MPs told the Herald Sun that there was major concern she could not lead Victorian Labor to a win in 2026.

However, on Tuesday backbenchers from both factions confirmed that the Federal result for Labor had bought Allan “much more” time.

“Everyone knows that the polling doesn’t necessarily translate anymore, so, people are seeing the federal result and rethinking their plans. It’s definitely bought her more time to turn things around.”

Originally published as David Southwick: ‘If you don’t learn from results, then you never go forward’