Jess Wilson appoints herself shadow treasurer, rewards key backers and dumps rival supporter

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has appointed herself shadow treasurer and declared her refreshed frontbench is the team she will take to next year’s state election.

But Wilson will be forced to dump two upper house MPs if she wins power next November, as her proposed cabinet breaches Victoria’s constitutional limits on ministerial appointments.

Under section 50 of the Constitution Act, no more than six ministers can come from the legislative council. Wilson has named eight upper house MPs in her line-up, meaning at least two would need to be demoted before she could form government. The rule does not apply to an opposition’s shadow cabinet.

Wilson, who replaced Brad Battin as Liberal leader two weeks ago, unveiled her reshuffled frontbench on Sunday, rewarding colleagues who supported her leadership bid and dumping key Battin supporter Richard Riordan.

“I know this is going to be a winning team,” she said. “Everyone who is going to be around that table ... has the ability, capacity and capability to take us to the next election.”

Former opposition leader John Pesutto was again overlooked for a frontbench role, while Wilson expanded the responsibilities of supporters, such as Bev McArthur and Sandringham MP Brad Rowswell, who picked up the education and industrial relations portfolios, which he will hold alongside government services.

While uncommon in Victoria in recent years, Wilson joins a long line of state party leaders who have combined leadership and treasury duties.

Former West Australian premier Mark McGowan, former Tasmanian premier Peter Gutwein and former ACT chief minister Andrew Barr held both roles simultaneously while in office. In Victoria, Steve Bracks briefly served as both premier and treasurer after winning the election in 1999.

Wilson defended her decision to take on the high-profile treasury portfolio, saying she was the best person for the job.

“I am proud to take on the role of shadow treasurer because if we don’t fix the books then the rest of the issues facing Victoria will not be able to be fixed,” she said. “I am the best person to take this forward.”

The opposition’s frontbench was reshuffled only seven weeks ago by Battin, who dumped Brighton MP James Newbury from his prized treasury portfolio to make way for Wilson. The move was widely cited among Liberals as the tipping point for Battin’s leadership already fraying under internal division, which paved the way for Wilson’s ascension.

Newbury will remain shadow attorney-general and has also picked up special minister of state.

Upper house MP McArthur, who was instrumental in securing Wilson’s leadership, will hold two shadow portfolios – local government and small business – as well as leading the opposition in the upper house.

She will be supported by Moira Deeming, who will continue in the role of shadow assistant minister for local government.

Wilson’s new line-up, which was released on the same day as the opening of Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel, excluded Riordan, who previously held the high-profile portfolios of tourism and housing. He was considered one of the opposition’s stronger policy performers.

Riordan was also a prominent supporter of Battin, who has been returned to the police and corrections portfolio, which he held before he became leader.

David Southwick, who was the previous police spokesman and is now building, planning and housing spokesman, was grilled about his new job on Sunday. He insisted he hadn’t been demoted.

“I have been very proud of working in the law and order space alongside Brad, a former police officer, and it makes absolute sense that Brad would take this portfolio,” he said.

Pesutto was again overlooked amid an ongoing legal fight following the party’s decision to lend the former leader money to cover his legal expenses in his defamation battle against Deeming.

The loan – provided to prevent Pesutto from facing bankruptcy, which could have forced him from parliament and triggered a close contest for his seat of Hawthorn – has caused significant tension among Liberals and prompted scrutiny over the party’s governance. His case will return to court in March.

Wilson, who was first promoted to the frontbench by Pesutto, defended her decision to keep the former leader on the backbench, insisting she would take her new line-up to the election next November.

“John has a lot to contribute, and he will be contributing that on the ground in Hawthorn,” she said.

Deputy Opposition Leader Sam Groth, who briefly held the portfolios of public transport, ports and freight, and aviation, will take on trade and investment and return as tourism, sport and major events spokesman.

Former opposition leader Matthew Guy, who was replaced by Pesutto in 2022, has been appointed public transport, ports and freight spokesman.

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