Victorian Liberals set for cabinet reshuffle after failed leadership challenge

The MP who failed to overthrow the Victorian Liberal Party leader has resigned from shadow cabinet along with his key backers.

Three Liberal MPs have been forced off the opposition frontbench following the failed attempt to overthrow leader Michael O’Brien.

Leadership hopeful Brad Battin and backers Ryan Smith and Nick Wakeling all resigned on Tuesday sparking a significant reshuffle of the shadow cabinet as O’Brien battled to unite the party.

The leadership challenge never took hold with just nine of the party’s 31 MPs voting in favour of a spill motion at an 8.45am meeting.

The failed bid was later described as “politically stupid” by former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett.

Mr Battin, who resigned from his roles as spokesman for roads, youth justice and community safety, said he would respect the decision of his colleagues.

But he failed to rule out further challenges and said he still harboured ambitions to lead the party one day.

Brad Battin leaving the Liberal party room on Tuesday. Picture: David Crosling

“I’m still young and hopefully got a long time left in politics, and I’ll cross that bridge, but, at the moment, I respect the decision of the party room,” he said.

“You don’t come into politics to sit on the backbench, you come in to be part of a team and get a message going forward.”

After emerging triumphant from the meeting, Mr O’Brien said the overwhelming result signalled confidence in his leadership.

“This was just an overwhelming endorsement, it says I have an overwhelming majority and what that means is we are focused on Victorians,” he said.

“We need to be pointing in the same direction. We will be making adjustments (to shadow cabinet) and I’ll announce them when I am ready to.”

But despite pleas for unity Liberal Party sources said the result did not guarantee Mr O’Brien’s future. Instead it exposed a split among Mr O’Brien’s opponents, with other potential challengers not yet ready to run.

Michael O'Brien emerged victorious. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Kennett, who was blindsided by the challenge, said there was a general dismay within the party at what had happened.

“I think it was madness and I don’t understand it,” he said.

“You don’t have a leadership challenge unless you’re going to win or get very close to achieving what you wanted, so it was grossly politically naive. It’s a good learning exercise for those who orchestrated the leadership challenge and failed.”

Mr Kennett said he anticipated the public would be looking at a completely new Liberal Party by the time the state election rolled around in 2022.

“I have no doubt the party will go through a number of changes and that includes preselection — some will retire, some will be tapped on the shoulder,” Mr Kennett said.

“You’ll find not only a more relevant opposition, but the public understanding the need for change.”

WHY O’BRIEN IS A DEAD MAN WALKING

Opposition leader Michael O’Brien may have emerged triumphant, but the warning shots have been fired.

Many in the party still consider him a dead man walking.

Just under one third of his party room today voted in favour of a motion to vote on the Liberal Party’s leadership. Nine of 31.

It’s hardly a ringing endorsement.

Read Shannon Deery’s full analysis here.

MERLINO BLASTS ‘RABBLE’ OPPOSITION

Acting premier James Merlino has blasted the state Liberal opposition as “chaotic” and “irrelevant”.

Mr Merlino was in Moonee Ponds on Tuesday morning to spruik the state government’s $619.4 million Jobs Victoria plan to return thousands to the workforce.

“We’re focused on creating 400,000 jobs and they’re focused on just one job — that of the opposition leader,” Mr Merlino said when questioned by the Herald Sun.

“It’s a pretty stark contrast isn’t it? Here we are making a major announcement about creating jobs.

“Today just shows how irrelevant the Liberal party is. They’re chaotic, they’re a rabble and they’re irrelevant.”

Mr Merlino wouldn’t be drawn into commenting on whether he thought Brad Battin would be a better leader than Michael O’Brien.

“Who leads the Liberal party is a matter for the Liberal party room,” he said.

Mr Merlino said he had “no preference” on whether he’d come up against Mr O’Brien or another member in Parliament.

“We’ll compete against the team that’s on the other side, whoever it’s led by, but what they’re showing today is that they’re not interested in the lives, aspirations, needs of the Victorian community,” he said.

“They are only interested in themselves and resolving the chaos that is the state Liberal party.”

LIBERALS IN LEADERSHIP CRISIS

The opposition leader arrived at parliament shortly before 8am, flanked by key backers, including his deputy Cindy McLeish and shadow treasurer Louise Staley.

Leader of the opposition in the upper house David Davis and health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier were also with him.

Mr O’Brien said he was shocked by the move to topple him, but had no explanation for what sparked it, directing queries to challenger Mr Battin.

But he said he expected the move to draw “line in the sand” over the controversy surrounding his leadership.

Mr OBrien also dismissed suggestions the Liberal drubbing at the weekend’s WA election had spooked his MPs.

Michael O'Brien with key backers on Tuesday morning. Picture: David Crosling

Several Liberal sources have told the Herald Sun on Tuesday morning that Battin would be unable to take control of the party, and may have fatally wounded his leadership prospects.

Furious MPs have insisted “there is no appetite to change leader, yet”.

“But this has put Michael O’Brien very firmly on notice.”

Key MPs including Matthew Guy, who has been pressured to reclaim the top job despite leading the party to a thumping election loss in 2018 and Tim Smith are understood to have ruled out backing Battin.

The Victorian Liberals are in crisis as the leadership challenge plunges the party further into chaos.

The move to topple Mr O’Brien, who has faced intense scrutiny over his performance since taking over from Mr Guy in 2018, left many MPs and senior party officials in shock on Monday.

Michael O'Brien and Brad Battin, pictured in 2017. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

Party powerbrokers were on Monday night meeting to plot a course forward, saying they were blindsided by the “amateurish” coup.

“This has none of the hallmarks of being a well-orchestrated coup,” one said.

“It looks like a frustrated backbencher who’s blown up his own chances.”

Well-placed sources were predicting Mr O’Brien would win any challenge, but said the damage to his leadership could ultimately prove fatal.

There was speculation Mr O’Brien would quit parliament if he was toppled on Tuesday, which would spark a by-election in his Malvern electorate.

The challenge brought an end to months of speculation over the party’s leadership.

Brad Battin has failed in his coup attempt. Picture: AAP Image/Alex Murray

WHO IS BRAD BATTIN?

Brad Battin is the Member for Gembrook and Shadow Minister for Roads and Youth Justice.

Raised in Harkaway and Berwick, the 45-year-old worked at McDonalds and in customer service after high school before joining Victoria Police in 2001.

Posted to Dandenong Police Station, he completed a Diploma in Public Safety (Policing), working with local schools to connect young people with education, training and employment.

He transferred to Prahran Police Station in 2005 where he turned his attention to combating alcohol fuelled crime.

Retiring from Victoria Police in 2007, Mr Battin became a small-business owner with the purchase of a Bakers Delight franchise which he ran for three years before parliament.

In 2010, he was elected to the Victorian parliament after defeating incumbent Labor MP Tammy Lobato.

Since 2014, he has served as the Shadow Minister for Environment, the Building Industry and Emergency Services.

Originally published as Victorian Liberals set for cabinet reshuffle after failed leadership challenge