Victorian Liberals Install Jess Wilson as First Female Leader in Dramatic Party Shift
Melbourne, Australia – The Victorian Liberal party has ousted Brad Battin as leader and elected Jess Wilson as his replacement, marking a historic moment as the first woman to lead the party in Victoria. The leadership change, finalized today, follows months of internal turmoil and declining party support under Battin’s tenure.
The move signals a significant attempt at renewal for the Victorian Liberals,who have struggled to present a unified front and gain traction against the state’s labor goverment. Battin’s leadership faced increasing pressure following a series of controversies, including his support for a loan to assist former leader john Pesutto with legal costs related to a defamation case, and perceived shortcomings in his performance leading the party.Wilson’s appointment aims to address these issues and reposition the Liberals ahead of the next state election.
battin replaced John Pesutto in late December after Pesutto’s position became untenable following a loss in a defamation case against upper-house colleague Moira Deeming. His subsequent backing of a loan to prevent Pesutto’s bankruptcy and cover Deeming’s legal fees sparked a legal challenge within the party. However, it was Battin’s leadership in recent months that ultimately fueled calls for a change.
Liberal MP Kim Wells articulated the sentiment prior to the vote, stating the party had “lost its way” and required “renewal.” He acknowledged “a lot of unfortunate mistakes [had] take[n] place over the last few months” contributing to the current situation.
Following the vote, Battin expressed pride in his contributions, stating, “I’m proud of the role and the things that I’ve done for the community.” He also emphasized the need for the party to focus on regaining power, adding, “Politics isn’t about just being inside the parliament, it’s about the people.”
Wilson’s immediate priorities are expected to focus on unifying the party and developing a clear policy platform to challenge the Andrews Labor government. The leadership change represents a pivotal moment for the Victorian Liberals as they seek to rebuild their standing with voters and present a viable choice in the next election.
