By Marcus Uhe and Callum Godde, AAP
Defeated Berwick MP Brad Battin has urged colleagues to get behind new Liberal leader John Pesutto.
Mr Battin’s lost a secret ballot vote by Liberal MPs on Thursday morning for the leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party, following Matthew Guy’s decision to vacate the role after November’s election.
He says the Hawthorn MP has his “100 per cent backing”, and urged his counterparts to do the same.
“I’m a very proud Liberal,” Mr Battin said.
“The only message I send to all of my colleagues: get behind John. Never take the Liberal logo of any of your signs. I don’t care what electorate you’re running in.”
Mr Pesutto narrowly reclaimed the inner east seat after he lost it at the 2018 state election.
He faces a steep challenge after the party secured just 29 per cent of the primary vote at the November poll, its worst result in decades.
Mr Pesutto would not reveal the result of the ballot but said the leadership team was humbled by their election.
“It means a lot to be given this opportunity by our party colleagues,” he told reporters at state parliament.
“These next four years is going to be really challenging for the people of Victoria, and we need a government that is pushed to do its level best.”
Mr Guy has not revealed if he intends to leave parliament after suffering his second consecutive loss to Premier Daniel Andrews, and declined to speak to media.
The member for Bulleen was defeated in the 2018 “Danslide” and resigned his position to serve as a backbencher. He then reclaimed the leadership from Malvern MP Michael O’Brien in 2021.
Labor has won at least 54 seats, the coalition 27 and the Greens four in the lower house.
Late on Wednesday, the Victorian Electoral Commission declared Labor the winner of Preston in Melbourne’s north by more than 1600 votes after preferences over the Greens.
The results for Bass and Pakenham are still unknown but are expected to be finalised on Thursday.
– With AAP
