Victorian Liberals pick next leader

The Victorian Liberals have chosen their new chief two weeks after a dramatic loss on the state election.

John Pesutto was elected in a celebration room assembly on Thursday morning after dealing with off in a vote with Brad Battin, MP for Gembrook.

Mr Pesutto narrowly beat incumbent Labor member John Kennedy and teal Melissa Lowe to grab the seat of Hawthorn in Melbourne’s leafy internal east final week.

Lowe
Camera IconJohn Pesutto has been chosen because the Victorian Liberals’ new chief. Valeriu Campan Credit: News Corp Australia

The former shadow attorney-general famously misplaced his seat to Mr Kennedy dwell throughout an election broadcast in 2018.

Mr Pesutto, who labored as a lawyer and advisor, is a average not like Mr Battin, who represents the social gathering’s right-wing faction.

Mr Pesutto instructed reporters the temper was hopeful earlier than the Liberals voted on Thursday.

“I’m feeling very positive today. We’ll see how we go. We’ll all know in a few minutes time,” he stated.

“But it’s really now for the party room to make a very important decision and I want to emphasise whatever the decision, we’re all going to get behind it.”

In his efforts to reclaim the seat, Mr Pesutto stated he and his workforce doorknocked 80 per cent of houses in Hawthorn, a seat of fifty,000 voters, over the previous yr.

Brad Rowswell, Bridget Vallence, Ryan Smith and Richard Riordan have all emerged as potential picks for deputy chief.