2021 Victorian Liberal Party leadership spills

Last updated

March 2021 Victorian Liberal Party leadership spill
Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg
← 201816 March 2021 Sep. 2021  →
  No image.png
Candidate Michael O'Brien Spill motion
Percentage70.97%29.03%
Votes229
Seat Malvern
Leader before election

Michael O'Brien

Elected Leader

Michael O'Brien

September 2021 Victorian Liberal Party leadership spill
Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg
←  Mar. 2021 7 September 2021
  No image.png
Candidate Spill motion Michael O'Brien
Percentage64.52%35.48%
Votes2011
Seat Malvern
Leader before election

Michael O'Brien

Elected Leader

Vacant

September 2021 leadership election
Liberal-Party-of-Australia-stub.svg
7 September 2021 2022  →
 
Candidate Matthew Guy
CaucusUnopposed
Seat Bulleen
Leader before election

Vacant

Elected Leader

Matthew Guy

The 2021 Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division) leadership spills were two spill motions on 16 March and 7 September 2021 against the leader of the Victorian branch of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition Michael O'Brien, who had held these roles since December 2018. The September spill motion was successful and resulted in a ballot to elect the new party leader and deputy party leader on the same day. Former leader, Matthew Guy, was elected unopposed as the party leader and Leader of the Opposition. Caulfield MP David Southwick defeated Louise Staley in the Deputy Leadership contest and was elected Deputy Leader, replacing Cindy McLeish who had been elected alongside O'Brien in 2018.

Contents

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 member of the Legislative Council 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] just politically naive, 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]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Matthew Guy returns as leader of Victorian Liberals after defeating Michael O'Brien". The Guardian Australia . Australian Associated Press. 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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