“If we are incapable of governing ourselves and being able to win in 2026, in my view, we will be in a crisis,” he said.
“All of us need to do the best we can. And I know sometimes in politics – I’ve been in politics now for 50 years – the elbows go out, and it’s very hard to get over it. But you’ve got to set those differences aside, kiss, shake hands and make up.”
Davis, who is aligned to Smith, said the party’s state executive would begin recruiting for Smith’s replacement next week.
A motion put to the state council on Saturday calling on the parliamentary party to support the legalisation of cannabis in a regulated market failed comprehensively.
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Davis has been defending a court challenge to the party’s decision to approve a $1.55 million loan to Pesutto. A handful of members on the state executive have claimed in a Supreme Court challenge that the decision was unconstitutional.
The committee approved the loan in June, sparing Pesutto bankruptcy and the party a byelection in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, after the Federal Court found he had repeatedly defamed his colleague Moira Deeming and ordered he pay $2.3 million in costs.
A loss for Davis on Saturday would have caused alarm for Pesutto’s supporters. The result, reinforcing the status quo, is a win for the moderate grouping.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin received two standing ovations when he addressed the state council, announcing a $100 million law-and-order election promise.
He pledged to introduce Jack’s Law, giving police and protective service officers power to screen people for knives with hand-held metal detectors in all public places, including transport zones and shopping centres.
It was introduced in Queensland in 2023 after the stabbing death of Jack Beasley in 2019, and has so far taken 1200 weapons off the streets.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin with his frontbenchers on Saturday.Credit: Joe Armao
Jack’s Law has been criticised by some experts as being largely symbolic rather than tackling the root cause of knife crime, with fears it would unfairly target minorities.
Battin also announced plans to establish a Victorian-first “residential and responsibility program” called Restart.
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The bootcamp-style initiative would be a structured, live-in program for serious and repeat offenders aged between 12 and 17, and feature mandatory physical and emotional activities to build discipline and confidence.
Federal opposition deputy leader Ted O’Brien also addressed the crowd. He joked about former premier Daniel Andrews’ attendance at a Chinese military parade earlier this month.
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