Sam Groth to step down from leadership

Retiring MP Sam Groth will step down from his role as deputy leader of the Victorian Liberal Party at the next party room meeting, and his portfolios will be immediately shuffled to other shadow ministers.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson messaged her fellow Liberal MPs with the news on Tuesday, following Groth’s shock announcement a day earlier that he would quit politics at the November election.

“Sam has advised me that he believes it is in the best interests of the party, as well for his family, for him to vacate the deputy leadership at the first party room meeting of the year,” Wilson wrote.

“Further advice on the timing of this meeting will be provided in due course.”

Groth was elected to the seat of Nepean just over three years ago.

The next party room meeting is scheduled for February 3, at the first parliamentary sitting week of the year, though special party room meetings can be called. Liberal MPs are also scheduled to have a party room conference at the end of the month, when a ballot could theoretically be held.

Planning spokesman David Southwick, who unsuccessfully ran against Groth for the deputy role when Wilson was elevated to the leadership, is considered a possible candidate. Shadow attorney-general James Newbury is being encouraged to stand.

Wilson also said she would reallocate Groth’s portfolios immediately.

Former opposition leader Brad Battin will take over sport, Southwick will cover tourism and major events, while Bridget Vallence will be placed in charge of trade and investment.

This will also bring the size of the shadow cabinet back in line with Premier Jacinta Allan’s cabinet following the resignation of Labor MP Natalie Hutchins.

Under parliamentary rules, the number of shadow ministers eligible for additional salary and expense allowance is capped at the number of cabinet ministers.

Groth’s return to the backbench means the opposition will not have to divide these resources.

The former tennis star-turned-politician blindsided colleagues Monday when he announced his retirement from politics, the same day his colleague and veteran MP Wendy Lovell was due to make a similar announcement.

In a public statement, Groth said he had made the decision after discussions with family but launched a broadside at his colleagues for infighting.

“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,” he said on Monday.

“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.”

The member for Nepean and his wife, Brittany, launched court action against the Herald Sun newspaper 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.

Speaking before her message to MPs, Wilson said she had a phone call with Groth on Monday night.

“Sam’s a colleague, he’s a friend, and he’s a member of my team. I wanted to check in on him and his welfare, and Britt. It was a really tough day on them as a family and I wanted to check in and we had a good chat last night,” she said on Tuesday.

She declined to go into the private conversation any further, including whether they had discussed Groth’s public statement.

Wilson repeated that convention was for an MP to stand down from the frontbench and any leadership position when they announce their intention to leave parliament.

“Yesterday [Monday] was really focused on, how do we give him that space, to make that decision, to spend time with his family. And I’m focused on ensuring that he’s got that space and he has that support.”

She said she was speaking to her MPs but was focused on Groth’s wellbeing rather than who could replace him as deputy.

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