Shadow cabinet reshuffle could bring divisive figure back into the Liberal fold

3 months ago 5

Former opposition leader John Pesutto could make a shock return to the Victorian Liberal frontbench as one of the names being considered for the prized treasury portfolio.

Other names that MPs say should be contenders to lead the opposition’s new focus on budget management include Brad Rowswell, James Newbury and even newly elected Opposition Leader Jess Wilson herself.

New Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson.

Wilson has unfettered authority to conduct a wholesale reshuffle of her frontbench after refusing to trade off portfolios to secure support for Tuesday’s coup. Bev McArthur, a key supporter of Wilson’s and party conservative, was elected leader of the upper house on Tuesday.

Liberal MPs and insiders, speaking anonymously to be frank about internal matters, said conversations about the new frontbench were still in their infancy. Wilson was expected to unveil her shadow cabinet next week, two sources said.

While the new-look leadership team reflects an attempt to bring together rival groupings within the party, those involved in negotiations said this did not involve any promises about frontbench positions.

It leaves Wilson with unusual freedom to build a team without debts to those who backed her.

Brad Battin after losing the Liberal leadership to Jess Wilson on Tuesday.

Deposed leader Brad Battin conceded that if he had his time again, he would have communicated better with his team.

“I went into my shell a little bit,” Battin told radio station 3AW on Wednesday after losing the leadership 11 months into the job.

“It’s a very restrictive role. I say leader of the opposition is the loneliest role I’ve ever had. Even though you’ve got someone with you the whole time, it doesn’t always feel like you’ve got someone to talk to.”

Battin said he would remind Wilson to keep speaking to her MPs, but that he trusted she had made no deals about shadow cabinet positions.

“She can go in there with an open mind and actually say, you’re the best person for this particular role,” he said. “Would I put my hand up for one of those roles? Yeah, I would. I’m pretty passionate.”

Three MPs suggested Wilson could retain the treasury portfolio herself, having gained it in the October reshuffle that doomed Battin’s leadership. Former West Australian premier Marc McGowan and former Victorian premier Steve Bracks both held the treasury portfolio as leaders.

Wilson did not rule out the possibility on Wednesday.

“I’m having lots of conversations with my colleagues over the coming days,” Wilson said.

Rowswell was shadow treasurer when Wilson held the finance portfolio under Pesutto’s leadership and the pair developed a tax reform and fiscal repair package. The MPs did not respond when asked about their potential new roles.

While a cohort of MPs wanted to see former leader Pesutto promoted to shadow treasurer, others believed it remained inappropriate for him to join the frontbench at all given his debt to the party’s investment vehicle Vapold, which is the subject of a Supreme Court challenge.

The Liberal Party’s state executive in June approved the $1.55 million loan to spare Pesutto from bankruptcy to meet his legal costs after repeatedly defaming his colleague Moira Deeming.

Battin remains party to the Supreme Court challenge, given he was a member of the state executive that approved the loan.

Asked on Wednesday whether she would have supported the loan as leader, as Battin did, Wilson shrugged off the hypothetical.

Energy spokesman David Davis, who lost his upper house leader position in Tuesday’s spill, said the frontbench was ultimately up to the leader but that he would continue to serve if asked.

“I’ve done lots of jobs and have lots of experience,” Davis said. “But the point here is that Jess is leading, and she is providing a strong future.”

On Wednesday, Premier Jacinta Allan said Wilson could not explain to Victorians why Battin was replaced. “Which demonstrates that the Victorian community just cannot trust the latest leader of the opposition to be upfront and transparent with them,” she said, claiming a Liberal government would cut services.

Wilson rejected this, along with suggestions she was too inexperienced as a 35-year-old first-term MP.

“I know I have the experience to get the job done,” Wilson said. “I also know that I’m a Millennial, and the largest voting cohort at the next election will be Millennials. I understand them. I understand the pressures on Millennials, and I’m looking forward to representing them.”

She has listed the budget as her top priority followed by crime, healthcare and home ownership, in what was viewed as a clear pitch to younger Victorians.

Wilson said a government she led would pause and review the $34.5 billion Suburban Rail Loop East, even if tunnels were being dug by the November 2026 election.

“We’ll look at the contractual arrangements, the financial arrangements and the construction process, and then at that point, we will make a commonsense decision that is in the interest of every Victorian,” she said.

Wilson would not say whether she would set a debt target or explain how she would lower taxes and debt, but said her team would create an “economic framework”.