Brad Battin, the newly elected leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, has described his new role as both “very pleasing and humbling” while acknowledging the “big task” of uniting his party and delivering for all Victorians.
Battin ousted John Pesutto in a party room meeting on Dec. 27 morning, and pledged to focus on pressing issues such as cost-of-living pressures, public safety, and infrastructure development.
“I know it’s a big task ahead, but I’ll be working with my team to ensure that we can deliver for all Victorians,” Batti said.
He also thanked his predecessor John Pesutto for his contributions to the party.
“Obviously, he’s had four years as a shadow Attorney General. He was also a member of our party for near 30 years,” Battin said. “I’ll be chatting to him again soon to ensure that we can have a united party we’re building towards the future.”
The leadership change followed a dramatic morning meeting, which began with a vote to reinstate Moira Deeming who was expelled earlier this year under Pesutto’s leadership.
Battin Targets Cost-of-Living Crisis
In his speech, Battin prioritised tackling the cost-of-living crisis, criticising the Allan Labor Government’s taxation policies for exacerbating financial pressures on businesses and families. Drawing from his background as a small business owner, he underscored the link between rising taxes and increased consumer costs.“As a former business owner, I understand the pressures placed on small businesses when governments make decisions, particularly around taxes,” Battin said.
“Every time a small business is charged more tax, customers are charged more for the items they buy, increasing the pressures on cost of living here in our state.”
Stronger Policing and Safer Communities
Battin used his background as a police officer to focus on law and order, calling for proactive measures to address the rise in crime across the state.“As a former police officer, I can speak firsthand about the important role of Victoria policing, crime prevention, and protecting our community,” he said. “Proactive patrols are the best way to reduce crime inherent in the state, and that means you need to fill the vacancies that are already there.”
According to latest data, Victoria is grappling with a significant surge in crime, with 578,762 offences recorded in the year to September 2024—a 13.4 percent increase from the previous year, or an increase of 68,536 cases.
Highlighting a sharp increase in aggravated burglaries, from seven per day to 19 under the Allan Government, Battin said, “We need to ensure that we’re standing up for the victims, and we will be stronger on crime, rather than the Allan Labor Government’s continued soft on crime approach.”
Building a Unified Team and Vision for 2026
Battin concluded his speech by emphasising unity within the Victorian Liberal Party and the need to present a clear alternative to the Allan Government in the lead-up to the 2026 election.“It is now our time to come out as a united team to show you that we are the team to go into government in 701 days’ time,” Battin said.
With just over 100 weeks until the election, Battin stressed the importance of reducing taxes, tackling the housing crisis, and addressing cost-of-living pressures. He also confirmed plans to appoint a new shadow cabinet in the coming weeks to develop policies that “deliver good and positive policy for each Victorian.”
Carroll Criticises Liberal Infighting Amid Bushfires
Meanwhile, when asked for his thoughts on the leadership shake-up, Deputy Premier Ben Carroll didn’t hold back, drawing a stark contrast between the government and the opposition.“At the moment, we’ve got volunteers on the front line fighting fires to keep Victorians safe. At the moment, we’ve also got the Liberal Party fighting amongst themselves for themselves,” Carroll said.
He added: “We‘ll let the Liberal Party fight amongst themselves. We’ll concentrate on fighting these bushfires and keeping Victorians safe.”
