Second Liberal MP announces retirement following Sam Groth resignation

State Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has dismissed complaints of a toxic culture inside the Victorian Liberals as “historical matters” after her deputy, Sam Groth, blindsided colleagues by announcing his resignation, and as a second Liberal MP also prepares to leave parliament.

Groth’s bombshell news meant Wilson’s office asked veteran MP Wendy Lovell to postpone announcing her own retirement, an announcement which had been planned for Monday. Though Lovell agreed, Wilson and Lovell released a public statement after questions from The Age.

On Monday morning, Groth announced that, after personal reflection and conversations with his family, he would not contest the November election. His public statement castigated the Liberal team for infighting he said was “not the kind of politics Victorians deserve”.

The member for Nepean and his wife, Brittany, launched court action against the Herald Sun last year over a series of articles that made spurious claims about the way their relationship began. The case settled in November with the Groths receiving an apology from the newspaper and an undisclosed payout.

Groth was also in the spotlight earlier last year for using then-deputy upper house leader Georgie Crozier’s chauffeur-driven car, which Groth had defended as within the rules.

On Monday, he said this was a challenging period and that his colleagues were behind it.

Wilson, thanking Groth for his contribution, confirmed she learnt of his plans to leave over coffee shortly before he issued his announcement at 9.15am. She said they had discussed his statement, but she did not directly respond when asked if she had seen its wording.

Wilson claimed Groth’s remarks about the culture of the Victorian Liberals were “issues of the past”, and rejected that she was presiding over a toxic party room.

“Absolutely not. And I reject the premise of that. I’ve set clear expectations of my team. These are historical matters … in terms of what Sam’s referring to. They didn’t happen under my leadership,” Wilson said.

She repeatedly said only Groth could explain his statement further.

He has asked for time with his family and said he would not be making any further comments.

Wilson said the Christmas break was often a time for reflection.

“Politics is a tough game. It’s a tough game for the individuals involved, but it can also be very tough on the families.”

Groth remains deputy opposition leader, and two sources speaking to The Age on the condition of anonymity said he had privately told colleagues he wanted to remain in the role.

While his statement did not address his deputy position, Wilson said convention dictated that retiring MPs leave the leadership and frontbench but that conversations with Groth were continuing.

Liberal MPs now expect to elect a new deputy and Wilson to embark on another reshuffle in the weeks ahead. If Groth does not stand aside voluntarily, his colleagues would need to force him out through a vote.

Groth served as deputy to then-Liberal leader Brad Battin and retained the position in the November coup successfully launched by Wilson. Liberal MPs were on Monday privately questioning why Groth recontested the position less than two months ago if he was pondering his exit from parliament.

The former tennis star, who was elected to state parliament in 2022, said the public pressure on his family was significant.

“Realising that some of it came from within my own party has been difficult to ignore,” Groth said. “Coming to that realisation has forced some very personal reflection.”

He said infighting had distracted from the job of representing Victorians and his Nepean constituents.

“I entered public life to serve my community, to represent the Mornington Peninsula, and to stand up for what I believe is in the best interests of Victorians,” he said in his statement on Monday. “I have always tried to approach this job with honesty, hard work and a clear focus on the people who put their trust in me.

“But when you find yourself having to fight against your own team, it becomes impossible to put those interests first. That is not the standard I came into public life to accept, and it is not the kind of politics Victorians deserve.”

Groth achieved a swing of more than 7 per cent at the 2022 state election to win the seat of Nepean, which Labor had flipped in the 2018 “Danslide” victory under Daniel Andrews.

Wendy Lovell, an upper house MP for the Northern Victoria region, was first elected in 2002. She was minister for children and housing under the Baillieu and Napthine governments.

The announcement that she will retire at this year’s state election was planned for Monday, then postponed following Groth’s decision, and then brought forward to Monday afternoon following questions from The Age.

“The Liberal Party’s values embody the aspirations of all Victorians, and I am very thankful to have been given the opportunity to represent those values as a country Liberal MP,” Lovell said.

“I would like to thank my family for their unwavering love and support. Whenever needed they have been there as a grounding influence, a cheer squad or as counsellors during some of the tougher times like the 2009 bushfires and 2022 flood. Without them my career would not have been possible.”

Lovell also thanked her electorate staff, and wished Wilson and the Victorian Liberal Party success for the November election.

Wilson thanked Lovell for her more than two decades in parliament.

“I have known Wendy for decades, and throughout that time, she has been a steadfast champion of Liberal Party values, and a tireless and passionate advocate for her community,” Wilson said.

“Wendy has been unwavering in her commitment to achieving better outcomes for regional Victorians.”

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