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Victorian Liberals opt to stick with leader after flunked leadership spill

Economy
16 March 2021 12:15 (AEDT)

Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien Source: Herald Sun

The Victorian Opposition Leader has survived a leadership spill, with the State Liberal Party voting to stick with Michael O’Brien.

A motion to challenge the Opposition Leader failed yesterday, after being proposed by the Opposition Spokesman for Roads, Brad Battin.

The vote to roll the leader failed 22 to nine, meaning there weren’t even enough votes to declare the leadership position vacant.

In the wake of the failed coup, the leader of Victoria’s Liberal Party has vowed to move on.

“I’m very pleased with the strong endorsement of our leadership team,” Michael O’Brien stated.

Going forward, the leader explained the focus would be on “saving Victoria from a Labor government that is quickly sending us broke instead of being strong, open and free, which is where Victoria needs to be.”

Yesterday’s motion to replace the Victorian Opposition Leader came after the WA Liberals were all but wiped out during the recent state election.

But, the Victorian Liberal Leader said it was a tough time to be an opposition party anywhere in Australia as the focus was on the government fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

“So we’re seeing that right across the country. The point is in Victoria we don’t have an election next week or end of this year — it’s November next year,” he said.

“The Liberal Party needs to focus on Victorians, not focus on themselves. So we’ll get through today and we’ll get back to our job of looking after the interests of Victorians,” Michael added.

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