Brad Battin, a former police officer and small business owner, has become the new Victorian Liberal leader, marking the fourth time the opposition has faced off against Victoria's Labor government. Battin takes over after John Pesutto stepped down, promising to unite the fractured party. Battin's priorities include increased police presence and stricter bail laws for youth offenders.
The new Victoria n Liberal leader, Brad Battin , is the fourth opposition leader to face off against Victoria ’s Labor government. Battin, the Berwick MP, has praised his predecessor, John Pesutto , as he seeks to unite the fractured party. Pesutto opted not to run for the leadership, and Battin was elected above the Mornington MP, Chris Crewther, while the opposition finance spokesperson, Jess Wilson, saw her bid for the top job fall short in the first round of voting.
Battin said he had spoken to Pesutto after the vote, but they had not spoken since. A former police officer and small business owner, Battin said his time outside politics put him in good stead to understand the pressures Victorians faced. Battin sidestepped questions about his all-male leadership team, instead focusing on the need for more police and tougher bail laws for youth offenders. He said the focus should be on putting programs in place that can work with young people when they enter the justice system, so that they don’t continue on a life of crime. Former tennis player Sam Groth appeared to spark the leadership spill earlier in December when he resigned to the backbench after Pesutto refused to step down as leader in the wake of a court loss. Groth was elected unopposed as deputy leader, while David Davis was elevated to leader of the upper house, with Evan Mulholland retaining his deputy upper house leader role
Victoria Victorian Liberals Brad Battin John Pesutto Labor Government Opposition Politics
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