Brad Battin set to be challenged by Jess Wilson
Brad Battin entered the party room with MP Sam Groth, MPs Richard Riordan and David Southwick.
Battin said he stands as a leader. “Yes, I will.”
Groth said he “absolutely” expects to become an MP.
Jess Wilson then entered with Evan Mulholland and Brad Rowswell. He didn’t say anything to the media.
The party room meeting started at 8.30am (AEDT). Before the meeting, MPs Bev McArthur and Kim Wells entered the party room together.
“Jess will be a great leader and I support her,” McArthur said.
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He denied the Liberal Party was divided and said Victorians wanted the strongest possible opposition to defeat the government. James Newbury also entered the party room.
Another former opposition leader, former Malvern MP Michael O’Brien, said today “we’ll see” when asked if there would be a new leader.
“These are difficult days for every leader,” he said. “I know because I’ve been there too.
“We will get through this. And the important thing is that when we make a decision we are all fully united and focused on bringing down the worst government in Victoria’s history.”
Similar sentiments were expressed before and after developments in the Liberal party leadership.
Finance spokeswoman Bridget Vallence, who lost her title as leader of opposition affairs in the last cabinet reshuffle, did not say whether Battin had lost her support.
“I’ve long had a view that we have party room decisions and we decide these things in the party room,” he said.
