Victorian Liberal party leader Brad Battin is facing a leadership challenge less than 12 months into the role. Shadow treasurer Jess Wilson is likely to nominate as leader when the party meets this morning. A Monash expert is available to speak about the leadership challenge and what it means for the Victorian Liberal party.
Available for comment:
Associate Professor Zareh Ghazarian, Head of Politics and International Relations, Monash School of Social Sciences
Contact: +61 402 851 224 or [email protected]
Comments attributable to Associate Professor Ghazarian:
“The Liberal Party in Victoria has struggled for over a decade to present itself as a united political force. It has been a party riven with disagreements about its policy settings and divisions about who its leader should be.
“Brad Battin took over as leader less than one year ago, just at the time that the previous leader, John Pesutto, was seemingly eroding the government's lead in the opinion polls. Battin has sought to focus on law and order, but a decisive mood for change has yet to be reflected in the opinion polls.
“While the change of leader may placate Liberal Party insiders, the hard task of raising Wilson's profile and positioning the party as a cohesive force in the eyes of the electorate remains.”
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