The political future of Victoria's opposition leader, Brad Battin, hangs in the balance as a group of his own Liberal colleagues have withdrawn their support, setting the stage for a dramatic leadership spill.
A vote to determine his position could occur as early as Tuesday morning during the party's regular weekly meeting, throwing the opposition into turmoil just one year before the state election.
Internal Unrest Comes to a Head
The crisis escalated on Monday afternoon when a faction of Victorian Liberal MPs formally informed Battin that they had lost confidence in his leadership. This direct intervention has paved the way for a potential ballot to replace him.
Multiple party sources from across different factions have confirmed that shadow treasurer Jess Wilson has gathered sufficient backing to challenge for the party's leadership. The deputy leader, Sam Groth, would also be implicated in any move to spill the leadership positions.
A Leadership Undermined by Party Disputes
Battin's authority has been progressively weakened by a series of internal party conflicts in recent months. Key issues include a bitter internal divide over a loan to prevent former leader John Pesutto from bankruptcy and to cover Moira Deeming's legal costs from a defamation trial.
The party's stability was further shaken in September when the director of the Victorian Liberals, Stuart Smith, resigned. His departure followed the publication of leaked messages in which he was heard ridiculing the party's women's council and upper house MP Bev McArthur.
Adding to the party's woes, the Victorian Liberal executive extended pre-selection deadlines in October, reportedly due to being underwhelmed by both the quantity and quality of candidates putting themselves forward to challenge sitting Labor MPs.
Brad Battin is expected to issue a statement later on Monday, while Jess Wilson has been contacted for comment. The political landscape in Victoria is set for a significant shift as the Liberal party room prepares to meet on Tuesday morning.
