Victorian Liberal leadership spill as it happened: Jess Wilson, 35, becomes new opposition leader, first woman to lead state branch

Thank you for following our live coverage of the Victorian Liberal leadership spill.

Jess Wilson made history today, becoming the first woman to lead the Liberal Party’s state division since it was founded 71 years ago.

Her victory also sets up a contest at the next election that guarantees a woman will be elected premier for the first time: Labor’s Jacinta Allan and Joan Kirner both became premier midterm.

Here’s a look back at what we’ve covered today:

• Wilson formally announced her election as the party’s leader, and outlined her four key priorities in the role: tackling the budget, “ending the crime crisis”, ensuring Victorians’ access to quality healthcare and supporting home ownership.
• This afternoon, she held a lengthier press conference, saying she was focused on “providing a credible alternative government Victorians are crying out for”. Wilson also said her party was united and that it was time for a new direction.
• In her first question time as leader, Wilson kept the questions focused on Victoria’s debt and the cost of living crisis.

• Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley congratulated Wilson’s appointment and said she represented a “fresh, next-generation approach” at a time when Victoria needs it most.
• Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Wilson “has what it takes” to lead the state.
• Ousted leader Brad Battin, in conceding defeat, said he was proud of the role he has played in his party, which now has “a very clear path to go to the next election”.
• Wilson confirmed Battin would continue to have a key role in her team.

This is where we will end today’s live coverage.

Thank you for following our live coverage of the Victorian Liberal leadership spill.

Jess Wilson made history today, becoming the first woman to lead the Liberal Party’s state division since it was founded 71 years ago.

Her victory also sets up a contest at the next election that guarantees a woman will be elected premier for the first time: Labor’s Jacinta Allan and Joan Kirner both became premier midterm.

Here’s a look back at what we’ve covered today:

• Wilson formally announced her election as the party’s leader, and outlined her four key priorities in the role: tackling the budget, “ending the crime crisis”, ensuring Victorians’ access to quality healthcare and supporting home ownership.
• This afternoon, she held a lengthier press conference, saying she was focused on “providing a credible alternative government Victorians are crying out for”. Wilson also said her party was united and that it was time for a new direction.
• In her first question time as leader, Wilson kept the questions focused on Victoria’s debt and the cost of living crisis.

• Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley congratulated Wilson’s appointment and said she represented a “fresh, next-generation approach” at a time when Victoria needs it most.
• Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Wilson “has what it takes” to lead the state.
• Ousted leader Brad Battin, in conceding defeat, said he was proud of the role he has played in his party, which now has “a very clear path to go to the next election”.
• Wilson confirmed Battin would continue to have a key role in her team.

This is where we will end today’s live coverage.

The government benches were much noisier than the opposition’s during question time today, pumped up by the internal ructions of their opponents.

Labor didn’t hold back in shouting out sledges and cheering.

New Opposition Leader Jess Wilson used her questions to reinforce her priorities and largely focused on the economy.

By comparison, Premier Jacinta Allan stuck to Labor’s classic attack lines that the Coalition was standing in the way of new housing and accusing the opposition of wanting to cut services to fund their budget repair ambitions.

New Opposition Leader Jess Wilson asked Premier Jacinta Allan to rule out tax increases to service the state’s debt, which is set to rise to $194 billion by the end of the decade.

Allan retorted that the government had “cut or reduced taxes” more than 60 times.

After Liberal MP James Newbury interjected that she had to be factual, Allan retorted that he was “failing in his audition to be shadow treasurer”.

Wilson then mentioned the Business Council of Australia ruling Victoria the worst state to do business in for a second year running.

Allan replied it was no surprise that a Sydney-based multinational group that Wilson herself used to work for talked down the Victorian economy.

Watch Jess Wilson’s first question time as Victoria’s opposition leader below.

New Liberal leader Jess Wilson has received some public encouragement from someone who knows plenty about the rigours of her new gig.

Michael O’Brien, who served as opposition leader of Victoria for nearly three years after the Coalition’s 2018 election defeat, posted on Facebook that “She is a star and Jacinta Allan’s worst nightmare!”

O’Brien, who is quitting politics at the next election, also had some words for Brad Battin: “As I know, it’s a very difficult job and today Brad showed character and grace. He will play a significant role in a future Liberal government.”

O’Brien replaced Matthew Guy, only to be removed one year before the 2022 election and replaced with Guy. The Liberals then lost to Labor again in 2022.

If the Coalition does win government in Victoria next November, Jess Wilson will become the state’s second-youngest ever premier – by seven months.

John Alexander MacPherson was elected as premier in 1869 when he was 35 years and 11 months old. Wilson will be 36 years and six months old come next election day.

Wilson is also the youngest opposition leader in the nation and younger than South Australia’s Vincent Tarzia, who is 39.

The honour of Victoria’s youngest ever female parliamentarian goes to our current Premier Jacinta Allan, who was elected as an MP in 1999 at age 26. Allan also became Victoria’s youngest minister, at 29.

At a national level, Australia’s youngest prime minister was Chris Watson, who was 37 when he began a four-month stint in 1904. Watson was also the first leader of the Labor Party, and as such the first Labor prime minister.