2021 Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division) leadership election

The 2021 Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division) leadership election was the 7 September election of the new Leader and Deputy Leader of the Victorian branch of the Liberal Party.

2021 Victorian Liberal Party leadership election
16 March – 7 September
 
Candidate Spill motion Michael O'Brien
Percentage 64.52% 35.48%
First ballot, 16 Mar. 9 22
Second ballot, 7 Sep. 20 11
September Leadership election
7 September
 
Candidate Matthew Guy
Caucus Unopposed
Leader before election

Vacant

 Elected Leader

Matthew Guy

In total there were three election motions spanning from 16 March – 7 September 2021. These included two spill motions, and one leadership ballot. The result eventuated with former leader, Matthew Guy, being elected unopposed as the party leader and Leader of the Opposition. He replaced Michael O'Brien whom had been leader for over 2½ years.

Deputy Leader Cindy McLeish, whom had been elected alongside O'Brien, was also replaced by Caulfield MP David Southwick. Southwick beat Louise Staley in the Deputy Leadership contest.

First spill motion: 16 March

Following "months"[1] of speculation surrounding the leadership of the Party, a spill motion was brought on at a party-room meeting on 16 March by long-time Liberal Councillor Bruce Atkinson.[1] It was believed that little-known Gembrook MP, and Shadow Spokesperson for roads, youth justice and crime prevention, Brad Battin, was pushing for a spill motion, with his intention to contest for the leadership.[2] However, as Battin likely didn't have the votes to secure the motion, nor his success to the leadership, he backed out of the proposal.[1][3]

The vote was ultimately a failure, with O'Brien winning the ballot 22–9.[1][3] Following the vote, Battin stood down his roles in the shadow cabinet;[1][4] while Battin allies, and frontbench MPs, Nick Wakeling and Ryan Smith quit their roles.[5]

Reactions

Following the spill attempt, former party leader and Opposition Leader, Matthew Guy, "insisted" he would not attempt to topple the leader before the next election in 2022, stating: “[it is] the end of the matter.”[6]

Labor Deputy Leader and Acting Premier James Merlino said in a press conference regarding the leadership vote: “They’re [Liberal Party] chaotic, they’re a rabble and they are irrelevant.” Further adding: “It just shows how irrelevant they are. We’re focused on getting people back to work...they’re focused on just one job, and protecting their own.”[1]

Former Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett said of the vote: “I don’t know where this came from I heard nothing about it[.] [It's j]ust politically naïve, politically stupid, and it simply was brushed aside as it should have been.”[1]

Second spill motion: 7 September

On 7 September, after substantial indications that a spill motion would be put forward at a party meeting, including two key resignations the day prior (Matthew Guy, Tim Smith),[7][8] Tim Smith, staunch ally of former leader Matthew Guy, moved for a leadership spill motion against incumbent Michael O'Brien.[9] With Guy heavily favoured to return as leader,[10] Michael O'Brien lost his mandate as leader in a leadership spill motion, 20–11;[11] just over six months from the previous spill motion attempt.

The same day, after the vacancy of the leadership, Matthew Guy was elected unopposed as the new leader of the party.[11][12] Several days later, Guy revealed his new shadow cabinet, dropping MPs whom voted against the leadership spill motion.[13]

Voting bloc by chamber
Chambers Caucus %
Legislative Assembly 20[lower-alpha 1] 64.52
Legislative Council 11 35.48
Total 31 100

See also

References

Notes

  1. Exluding Michael O'Brien, otherwise the number of MLAs is 21.

Citations

  1. Dexter, Rachael (16 March 2021). "As it happened: Michael O'Brien faces Liberal leadership test". The Age.
  2. Sakkal, Paul; Smethurst, Annika (15 March 2021). "'It won't get up': Bullish O'Brien ready to face his challengers". The Age.
  3. "Victorian Liberals vote to stick with Michael O'Brien after 'stupid' attempted leadership spill". ABC News. 16 March 2021.
  4. Durkin, Patrick (16 March 2021). "Victoria's Liberal leader survives leadership spill". Australian Financial Review.
  5. McMillan, Ashleigh (21 March 2021). "Victorian Liberal leader announces new frontbench after failed spill". The Age.
  6. Fowler, Michael (17 March 2021). "'The end of the matter': Former Liberal leader rules out leadership tilt before election". The Age.
  7. Sakkal, Paul; Ilanbey, Sumeyya (6 September 2021). "Liberal spill showdown confirmed, with rebels confident of numbers to oust O'Brien". The Age.
  8. Baxendale, Rachel (7 September 2021). "Matthew Guy set to return as Victorian opposition leader after Michael O'Brien loses support". The Australian.
  9. Kolovos, Benita (7 September 2021). "'Positive' Guy returns as Vic Libs leader". Bega District News.
  10. Patrick, Aaron (6 September 2021). "Victorian Liberal leader O'Brien digs in against challenge". Australian Financial Review.
  11. "Matthew Guy returns as leader of Victorian Liberals after defeating Michael O'Brien". The Guardian Australia. 7 September 2021.
  12. Ilanbey, Sumeyya; Sakkal, Paul; Smethurst, Annika (7 September 2021). "Returned Liberal leader Matthew Guy promises party reset, focus on pandemic recovery". The Age.
  13. "Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy unveils new shadow cabinet after spill". ABC News. 12 September 2021.
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