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The Victorian Liberal Party is on the brink of a leadership shake-up as senior members have informed Opposition Leader Brad Battin that he has lost their backing.
A coalition of Liberal MPs, representing various factions within the party, approached Battin this afternoon, urging him to step down ahead of tomorrow morning’s party room meeting at Parliament.
Additionally, other MPs have reached out to Battin to convey their dissatisfaction with his leadership performance.
If a motion for a leadership spill is successful, Shadow Treasurer Jess Wilson is anticipated to challenge Battin for the leadership position during the meeting.
At 35, Wilson, who was elected as the member for Kew in the 2022 election, is among the youngest members in the party room.
9News understands she was not behind the push for a challenge and was approached to put her hand up.
Plateauing opinion polls, frustration at a recent cabinet reshuffle and pressure ahead of next year’s election are believed to be behind the motion to turf Battin.
Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett believes Battin deserves more time at the top.
“I can’t believe it, but there is a degree of self-destruct within the Victorian parliamentary party as we’ve seen over the last few years,” Kennett told 3AW.
Deputy leader Sam Groth and shadow planning minister Richard Riordan were tonight at Battin’s side inside his CBD office.
When asked whether Battin would remain leader, Groth remarked “only time will tell”.
The party suffered a wipeout defeat at the 2022 election.
Battin succeeded at a leadership spill against former party leader John Pesutto in December last year.
Pesutto narrowly beat out Battin to snatch the leadership from Matthew Guy following the party’s loss at the last election.