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Former Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett has castigated his colleagues in the party who pushed for a spill this morning, describing the failed leadership motion as “foreplay”.
“I don’t know where this came from I heard nothing about it just politically naive, politically stupid, and it simply was brushed aside as it should have been,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne a short time ago.
Mr Kennett said the bid was ill-timed due to being too far out from the next state election.
“When I say foreplay, we have 18 to 19 months to go before the next state election.
Victoria’s acting Premier James Merlino has taken the chance to slam the Liberal party’s leadership spill as an act of self-interest that showed their disconnect from the community.
“They’re chaotic, they’re a rabble and they are irrelevant,” Mr Merlino said at a press conference this morning.
Speaking before challenger Brad Battin was defeated 22 votes to 9, Mr Merlino said he had no preference as to whom the Labor government comes up against in next year’s election.
“We’ll compete against the team that’s on the other side, whoever it’s led by,” he said.
Liberal leader Michael O’Brien has signalled he will demote challenger Brad Battin and his key supporters in response to the push against his leadership.
Speaking as he left the party meeting, which he won 22-9, Mr O’Brien said he had won an “overwhelming endorsement”.
“The party has very strongly resolved to keep the leadership in place,” he said.
“We need to get our focus on Victorians ... On rebuilding this state and saving us from this Labor government that’s quickly sending us broke.”
“We’ve been releasing policies, whether it’s ending Belt and Road, whether it’s zero to landfill, whether it’s backing the native timber industry or building Eastwest LinkMr O’Brien acknowledged he “wasn’t perfect” and said he would “listen and consult” with his colleagues to ensure he is not challenged again.
Asked if he would sack the rebels from his frontbench, Mr O’Brien said: “We’ll be making some adjustments to the front bench later today, and I’ll make those changes when I’m ready to announce them.”
Challenger Brad Battin has refused to rule out a future challenge and argued his loss this morning was ‘not an embarrassment’.
Mr Battin said he would talk to leader Michael O’Brien later today about whether he remained on the front bench.
He said he had a “very good resume” and could run a “good, positive campaign” had he been elected leader.
“We must respect the decision ... to support Michael O’Brien,” he said.“I put my name forward ... because I know I can run a good, positive campaign.“
A bit more context for the earlier confusion about what happened inside the partyroom:
Veteran Liberal MP Bruce Atkinson brought on the leadership spill which was at risk of not proceeding once it became clear Mr Battin didn’t have the numbers.
Any MP can bring on a leadership contest in the partyroom. Mr Atkinson first moved a motion to suspend standing orders before asking for a secret ballot.
All 31 MPs were then asked to vote on whether they wanted to declare the leadership open, that vote failed 22 votes to 9.
Apologies for our last post which has been removed. We incorrectly reported that the spill motion had been successful. In fact a count has shown the spill was unsuccessful: 22 votes to 9.
Here’s how the process will work for the 31 Liberal MPs about to begin their party meeting at 8.45am.
MPs will first vote on a spill motion likely to be put by one of the supporters of leadership aspirant Brad Battin.
This is a ballot to declare the leadership vacant.
If a majority of MPs back the motion, the leadership is declared vacant. At this point, leadership candidates can put their names forward.
The initial spill motion if effectively a referendum on Michael O’Brien’s leadership. If he is to lose this vote, it would be a sign he does not have the confidence of his party room.
However, he may still decide to contest the second vote if he loses the first one.
The vast majority of MPs surveyed on their entrance to Parliament this morning have said they wouldn’t back the spill motion, meaning it is unlikely to succeed.
Three Liberals say they won’t be voting for the challenge against leader Michael O’Brien, while one said they will be supporting the challenge.
Frontbencher David Hodgett, Matt Bach and Bernie Finn all said they would back their leader.
Beverley MacArthur said she would back the spill motion, while veteran Bruce Atkinson said he would not comment.
Challenger Brad Battin and his supporters have entered Parliament to attend the party room meeting. They escaped media attention by entering through a different entrance.
As we await the outcome of the party room meeting at 8.45am, here’s a quick reminder of who has led the Victorian Liberals since the early 90s.
Jeff Kennett 1991–1999 (Premier from 1992–1999)