On Thursday morning the newly elected Hawthorn MP John Pesutto won the vote for the Liberal leadership. The vote was attended by 20 lower house Liberal MPs and hopeful candidates, as well as 13 upper house MPs.
The son of a working-class Italian immigrants Pesutto defeated Gembrook MP Brad Battin in what was a close vote.
Pesutto was a senior adviser to former-premier Ted Bailleu, the last Liberal to win government only to be toppled by right wing colleagues in 2013, who then elected Denis Napthine as premier. Most concede that the toppling of Bailleu, allowed Labor’s Dan Andrews to win the 2014 election.
Caulfield MP David Southwick has been re-elected as deputy leader, beating Warrandyte MP Ryan Smith in the final vote. Georgie Crozier was elected upper house leader, with Matt Bach as her deputy.
After the vote Pesutto said he would lead a constructive opposition that would hold the government to account when necessary.
“These next four years will be really challenging,” he said.
John Pesutto regained the seat of Hawthorn lost in 2018, and now won the Liberal leadership.
“We will be a constructive opposition, but we will apply scrutiny when it’s necessary to do so.
Pesutto will hold a press conference and take questions later today.
According to The Age both candidates had secured about 15 votes before the poll, leaving the remaining undecided MPs to sway the outcome.
Pesutto entered Parliament with upper house MP Crozier before the vote.
Pakenham candidate David Farrelly and Narracan candidate Wayne Farnham both attended, despite votes in Pakenham still being counted and the election in Narracan being delayed due to the death of a National Party candidate.
Many of Pesutto’s supporters were backers of former leader Ted Baillleu, as well as moderate MPs representing urban electorates.
Pesutto now must rebuild the Liberals’ fortunes before fighting the 2026 election against Labor.