MELBOURNE, 18 June, 2025: The opposition Liberal-Nationals have been in the opposition in Victoria since 2014. The 61st Parliament of Victoria election is due on 28 November, 2026. Labor’s Premier Jacinta Allan, will be attempting a fourth term against Liberal-Nationals led by Brad Battin.
The state election is one year and three months away but for Brad Battin it is not distant as it looked at today’s multicultural press conference where he promised ‘A Fresh Start for Victoria’ along with his team,1.e., Sam Groth, Deputy Leader of Opposition, Evan Mulholland, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council and Shadow Multicultural Minister, David Davis, Leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council, and Jess Wilson, Shadow Minister for Industry & Economic Growth.
The opposition rattled by the Labor sweep in the recent Federal election and the former Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto facing bankruptcy after being ordered to pay costs of $2.3 million after losing his defamation battle with Moira Deeming, today seemed to be combative to refurbish their political fortunes for the state election next year.
Brad Battin reteriated commitment to different cultures, then talked about the state’s bad crime situation and implement “out of system to jail’ for those who break bail conditions, tackle “unaffordable housing where the government has failed” with “alternatives needed”, and will scrap the payroll tax on schools.
A pamphlet distributed at the press conference stressed on restoring financial integrity and accountability, removing barriers to private sector growth and job creation, making life more affordable and support workers and secure the state’s by tackling debt responsibility.
Evan Mulholland, criticised the Federal government’s decision to locate the new SBS production hub in Western Sydney, not Melbourne. The Legislative Council has, he said, today passed a resolution calling the SBS to remember there is more to Australia than Western Sydney. This decision, Evan Mulholland said, “is a snub to Victoria’s multicultural communities.”
