2022 Victorian Liberal Party leadership election

2022 Victorian Liberal Party leadership election

Leadership election

Candidate John Pesutto Brad Battin Caucus vote 17[1] 16[1] Seat Hawthorn Berwick Faction Moderate[2] Conservative[2]

Leader before election Matthew Guy Elected Leader John Pesutto

Deputy leadership election

Candidate David Southwick Ryan Smith Brad Rowswell Caucus #1[1] #2[1] #3[1] Seat Caulfield Warrandyte Sandringham Faction Moderate[2] Conservative[2] Conservative[3]

Deputy before election David Southwick Elected Deputy David Southwick

The 2022 Victorian Liberal Party leadership election was held on 8 December 2022 to elect the leader of the Victorian Liberal Party and, ex officio, Leader of the Opposition, following the party's loss at the 2022 Victorian state election.

Matthew Guy, who had held these roles since September 2021 and previously in 2018 resigned after the Coalition's defeat to the Australian Labor Party at the November election.

Moderate John Pesutto defeated conservative Brad Battin 17 votes to 16, while David Southwick retained the position of Deputy Leader. In the Legislative Council, Georgie Crozier succeeded David Davis as leader, with Matthew Bach elected deputy leader unopposed.

Background

Following the Coalition's defeat at the 2014 Victorian state election under then Premier Denis Napthine, Matthew Guy, who was minister for planning and minister for multicultural affairs and citizenship, was elected as the leader of the Liberal Party and subsequently opposition leader with Peter Walsh as his deputy from the National Party. Guy led the coalition to a landslide defeat at the 2018 Victorian state election and resigned as leader following the results. Former treasurer Michael O'Brien succeeded him as the leader.

By 2021, O'Brien's position was increasingly becoming the subject of speculation that the party was to replace him. On 16 March 2021, members of the shadow frontbench Ryan Smith, Brad Battin and Nick Wakeling resigned. Battin subsequently put forward a leadership spill motion on 17 March 2021, which saw O'Brien surviving the leadership challenge against him.[4]

In September 2021, there was further speculation about O'Brien's leadership. On 6 September 2021, Guy and another frontbench member, Tim Smith resigned from O'Brien's shadow ministry. Later, another spill motion was called, which was successful with the Liberal caucus voting 20-11 for the motion and the leadership becoming vacated. The same day, Guy was elected leader for a second time unopposed.[5]

Following the 2022 Victorian state election where the Coalition was again defeated, Guy announced his resignation as leader resulting in a leadership election for the next term.[6]

Candidates

Leadership

Following Guy's resignation as party leader, three candidates initially declared their intent to contest the election, all from the party's conservative faction—Brad Battin, who first challenged the party leadership in 2021; Ryan Smith; and Richard Riordan. Both Ryan and Battin had returned to the Shadow Ministry following Guy's return to the party leadership in 2021. On 30 November, Smith withdrew his candidacy, endorsing Battin;[7] the following day, Riordan followed.[8]

A fourth candidate, moderate John Pesutto, had publicly expressed his interest, although his candidacy was conditional on him regaining the seat of Hawthorn, which was lost to Labor's John Kennedy in 2018.[9] On 30 November 2022, both Kennedy and teal independent challenger Melissa Lowe conceded defeat in the seat of Hawthorn; Pesutto officially announcing his candidacy on 1 December.[10]

Nominated

Name	Positions	Faction	Declared
Brad Battin	Shadow Minister for Police (2021–present) Shadow Minister for Emergency Services (2021–present) Shadow Minister for Community Safety and Victim Support (2021–present) Shadow Minister for Corrections (2021–present) MP for Berwick (2022–present) MP for Gembrook (2010–2022)	Conservative[2]	28 November 2022[9]
John Pesutto	Shadow Attorney-General (2014–2018) MP for Hawthorn (2014–2018, 2022–present)	Moderate[2]	1 December 2022[10]

Withdrew

Name	Positions	Faction	Declared	Withdrew	Endorsed
Ryan Smith	Shadow Minister for Finance (2022–present) Shadow Minister for Planning and Heritage (2021–present) Shadow Minister for Suburban Recovery (2021–present) MP for Warrandyte (2006–present)	Conservative[2]	28 November 2022[9]	30 November 2022[7]	Brad Battin
Richard Riordan	Shadow Minister for Local Government (2021–present) Shadow Minister for Housing (2022–present) Shadow Minister for Resources (2021–present) MP for Polwarth (2015–present)	Conservative[2]	28 November 2022[11]	1 December 2022[8]	Brad Battin

Declined

• Michael O'Brien, former Opposition Leader (2018–2021) and MP for Malvern[12]
• Georgie Crozier, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council and MLC for Southern Metropolitan Region[13]

Deputy leadership

Nominated

Name	Positions	Faction	Announced
Brad Rowswell	MP for Sandringham (2018–present)	Moderate[2]	30 November 2022[14]
Ryan Smith	Minister for Youth (2010–2014) Minister for Environment and Climate Change (2010–2014) MP for Warrandyte (2006–present)	Conservative[2]	8 December 2022
David Southwick	Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (2021–present) MP for Caulfield (2010–present)	Moderate[2]	30 November 2022^[citation needed]

Leadership election in the Legislative Council

2022 Victorian Liberal Party Legislative Council leadership election

8 December 2022

Candidate Georgie Crozier Bev McArthur Caucus 21 13 Seat Southern Metropolitan Western Victoria Faction Moderate[2] Conservative[2]

Leader in the Legislative Council before election David Davis Elected Leader in the Legislative Council Georgie Crozier

2022 Victorian Liberal Party Legislative Council deputy leadership election

8 December 2022

Candidate Matthew Bach Caucus Unopposed Faction Unaligned[2]

Deputy Leader in the Legislative Council before election Georgie Crozier Elected Deputy Leader in the Legislative Council Matthew Bach

There was speculation that the party's leadership in the Victorian Legislative Council may be contested. Prior to the election, David Davis was the leader in the council for the party. Some within the party advocated for others to challenge Davis. Some of the names that were listed included Bev McArthur, Matthew Bach and Georgie Crozier.[15]

Crozier and McArthur ultimately stood for the leadership, with Crozier elected leader 21 votes to 12.[16][17]

References

1. McCubbing, Gus (8 December 2022). "John Pesutto wins Liberal leadership in Victoria by one vote". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
2. Ilanbey, Sumeyya; Smethurst, Annika; Eddie, Rachel (6 December 2022). "Victorian Liberal leadership contest hangs in the balance". The Age. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
3. Le Grand, Chip (27 December 2024). "A fleeting moment of calm before an unreturned phone call reignited Liberal loathing". The Age. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024. Rowswell, a conservative MP who'd been close to Tony Abbott and worked as a Canberra staffer through the leadership turmoil of the federal party, was unmoved.
4. "Victorian Liberals vote to stick with Michael O'Brien after 'stupid' attempted leadership spill". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Melbourne, Victoria. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
5. Patrick, Aaron (6 September 2021). "Victorian Liberal leader O'Brien digs in against challenge". Australian Financial Review.
6. "Matthew Guy to resign as Liberal leader after second Victorian election defeat". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Melbourne, Victoria. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
7. "Three contenders left vying for Victorian Liberal Party leadership after Ryan Smith drops out". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Melbourne, Victoria. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
8. "As counting continues in Victoria's state election, one race is separated by just five votes". ABC News. 30 November 2022.
9. Rooney, Kieren; Clarke, Mitch; Gailberger, Jade (28 November 2022). "Multiple Liberal MPs set to fight it out for party's leadership". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Victoria. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
10. "John Pesutto to announce Victorian Liberal Party leadership bid". Sky News Australia. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
11. Staszewska, Ewa (28 November 2022). "Ryan Smith, John Pesutto and Richard Riordan lead race for Liberal leadership following Victorian election loss". Sky News Australia. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
12. Deery, Shannon [@s_deery] (28 November 2022). "Michael O'Brien will not put his hand up for the leadership of the Liberal Party. MPs being told he's picked up the pieces of a Guy-led disaster once and won't be doing it again. #springst #Vicvotes22" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
13. Godde, Callum; Ward, Rachael (28 November 2022). "Challengers emerge in Vic Lib leadership". AAP. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
14. Staszewska, Ewa (30 November 2022). "Ryan Smith withdraws from Liberal leadership contest and backs Brad Battin for job as three strong candidates emerge". Sky News Australia. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
15. Deery, Shannon; Rooney, Kieren (30 November 2022). "John Pesutto tipped to be next Liberal Party leader". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Victoria. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
16. Kolovos, Benita (28 November 2022). "Victorian Liberals raise 'faith values' and Labor-style broad appeal in jostle for party's leadership". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
17. Deery, Shannon (29 November 2022). "Libs hope wildcard candidate can offer 'fresh start'". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Victoria. Retrieved 29 November 2022.