Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin has enacted a significant reshuffle of his shadow cabinet, promoting fellow leadership contender Jess Wilson to the critical position of shadow treasurer. This move comes at a time of internal strife within the Liberal Party, following the retirement announcements of senior figures David Hodgett and another unnamed member ahead of the state election in November 2026.
The reshuffle was revealed on Saturday morning and is seen as a response to ongoing internal conflicts within the opposition, which has faced challenges against the ruling Labor government led by Premier Jacinta Allan. Despite the Labor Party’s declining popularity amid a sluggish economy projected to amass a debt of approximately $194 billion within four years, the Liberal Party remains embroiled in factional disputes.
In this new cabinet lineup, Wilson, a former executive with the Business Council of Australia and advisor to ex-federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg, replaces James Newbury as shadow treasurer. Newbury, a prominent supporter of Battin during last year’s leadership spill against John Pesutto, will assume the role of shadow attorney-general while retaining responsibilities related to equality and adding anti-corruption to his portfolio.
Battin’s reshuffle sees the elevation of first-term MPs Richard Welch, Nicole Werner, and Nick McGowan to the frontbench. However, the decision to demote Roma Britnell, a previous ally of Pesutto who switched support to Battin in December, has drawn criticism. Britnell expressed her disappointment in an interview with the Australian Financial Review, indicating that her demotion was not voluntary.
Despite the changes, Battin has reaffirmed his commitment to lead the party into the 2026 election, stating, “We need less taxes, less waste and lower crime.” He emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues to provide Victoria with a “fresh start.”
Nonetheless, concerns remain within the party about Battin’s leadership approach. One Liberal MP, who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters, criticized Battin for prioritizing factional allies over promoting the most capable MPs to key roles. The MP remarked, “It’s clear Battin doesn’t understand any other issue other than crime. He’s proving to people he’s only got one song sheet to sing from.”
As the reshuffle unfolds, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the Liberal Party’s strategy moving forward and whether they can effectively challenge the incumbent Labor government in the upcoming election.
