The 2025 Victorian Liberal Party leadership spill was held on 18 November 2025 to elect the leader of the Victorian Liberal Party and, ex officio, Leader of the Opposition.

Following a successful leadership spill against Brad Battin, Jess Wilson was elected as leader unopposed. The position of deputy leader was also spilled. Sam Groth was challenged by David Southwick. Groth retained his position, winning by 17 votes to 15.

Background

Following the resignation of senior Liberal MPs Michael O'Brien and David Hodgett, on 11 October 2025, a reshuffle of Battin's shadow ministry occurred. The reshuffle saw three first term MPs, Nicole Werner, Nick McGowan, and Richard Welch. It also saw the promotion of former primary challenger Jess Wilson to the Shadow Treasurer portfolio, taking over from Battin ally James Newbury. Battin marketed this as a part of the Victorian coalition's 'fresh start', following a slipping performance in opinion polls. The reshuffle was criticised for promoting factional allies of Battin, rather than deserving individuals within the party.

Renewed leadership tensions ensued from the reshuffle, with both moderate and conservative factions expressing unhappiness with the decisions made by Battin. Speculation arose that Wilson or another Liberal MP would challenge Battin, however Wilson initially refused.

On 17 November 2025, ABC News reported that a cross-factional delegation of Liberal MPs informed Battin that he had lost the support of the party room and that it understood that Wilson would nominate for the leadership of the party in a spill the following morning.

A poll a day before the spill found that the Liberal party was in an election winning position.

Candidates Leadership Nominated CandidateElectorateFactionPortfolio(s) Jess WilsonKewModerate Shadow Treasurer (2025–present)

Deputy leadership Nominated CandidateElectorateFactionPortfolio(s)  Nepean Unaligned Deputy Leader of the Opposition (2024–present) Shadow Minister for Public Transport (2024–present) Shadow Minister for Ports and Freight (2024–present) Shadow Minister for Aviation (2024–present)  David Southwick Caulfield Moderate Shadow Minister for Police and Corrections (2024–present) Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention (2024–present) Deputy Leader of the Opposition (2021–2024)

Legislative Council leader Deputy Legislative Council leader

Results Spill motion

Leader

Deputy leader

See also

2026 Victorian Labor Party leadership election

Notes

References