Victorian Liberal MPs have voted to replace Brad Battin with Jess Wilson to lead the party at the next state election.
Current leader Brad Battin faced a challenge from first-term MP Jess Wilson, who is now the first woman to lead the Coalition in the state’s history.
The new Victorian Liberal leader said her main priorities were to bring the budget under control, end the crime crisis, increase access to healthcare, and make home ownership more accessible for all Victorians.
“I will work every day for Victorians to make sure at the next election they have a clear and credible alternative to vote for that gives them hope for the future of Victoria,” she said.
The motion to spill the leadership divided the Liberal Party, at 19 votes to 13.
After the party voted for the spill, Ms Wilson was elected unopposed.
Deputy Leader Sam Groth held onto his position despite being challenged by David Southwick, at 17 votes to 15.
Mr Battin had been leader for less than a year, after replacing ousted leader John Pesutto in December.
Brad Battin and Jess Wilson are facing off for the leadership of the Victiorian Liberals. (AAP: James Ross/Joel Carrett)
The former opposition leader left the meeting after the vote, telling reporters he was proud of his work but the focus needed to be on securing the election next November.Â
“The Victorian Liberal Party now has a very clear path to go towards the next election,” Mr Battin said.
“We need to see genuine change and we can’t just wait for it to happen.”
Mr Battin said he would continue to remain part of the team and to work with them.
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moment.
3h agoMon 17 Nov 2025 at 10:30pm
Jess Wilson to speak more later
After a brief statement, Ms Wilson left without taking questions, saying she would hold a full press conference later.
3h agoMon 17 Nov 2025 at 10:28pm
Wilson backed by Sam Groth, Bev McArthur
Ms Wilson was flanked by MP Sam Groth and thanked him for his support, suggesting he has retained the deputy leadership position.
Upper House MP Beverley McArthur also stood with Ms Wilson, suggesting she could be the new leader of the Liberals in the Legislative Council.
4h agoMon 17 Nov 2025 at 10:24pm
Wilson makes pitch to voters
Ms Wilson says she wants to make sure her party is a credible alternative at the election next November.
“I will work every day for Victorians to make sure at the next election they have a clear alternative to vote for that gives them hope,” she says.
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Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said it was “wonderful” to see two strong female leaders in Victorian politics, but that he was confident the current premier was still the leading contender.
“This is not total renewal, this is just changing the jockey and it’s the same old horse,” he said.
“I think Jacinta Allan has the experience, she’s seen off two leaders already and she’s doing a wonderful job.”
Jess Wilson with Sussan Ley in 2023. (Facebook: Sussan Ley)
Federal opposition leader Sussan Ley thanked Mr Battin for his “tireless work” for the Victorian Liberal Party.
She said Ms Wilson represented a fresh, next-generation approach at a time when Victoria needed it the most.
“After years of a tired and out-of-touch Labor government, families are facing rising debt, growing crime and a health system that is stretched to breaking point,” Ms Ley said.
“Jess and I will work together to build a stronger Liberal team across the country and offer Victorians the real alternative they are looking for.”
Spill came weeks after shadow cabinet shake-up
On Monday, a delegation of MPs from across competing factions visited Mr Battin to tell him he had lost the support of the party room.
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The challenge to his leadership comes just weeks after Mr Battin promoted Ms Wilson to shadow treasurer a part of a cabinet shake-up.
Ms Wilson, a first-term MP for the inner-Melbourne seat of Kew, first threw her hat in the ring during the leadership challenge that saw former leader John Pesutto dumped last December.
On his way into the partyroom meeting on Tuesday morning, former Liberal leader Michael O’Brien said the party needed to remain focused on winning the next election.
“These are difficult days for any leader. I know because I’ve been there myself,” he said.
“We’ll just get through it and the important thing is once we make a decision we are all completely united and focused on removing the worst government in Victoria’s history.”