Battin to contest leadership

Brad Battin 187958_04

Gembrook MP Brad Battin will contest the State Liberal leadership next week.

This follows the resignation of Matthew Guy after Saturday’s heavy state election loss.

A senior Liberal Party source confirmed on Friday 30 November that Mr Battin would be a candidate at a party room meeting to decide the new leader on Thursday.

Shadow Treasurer Michael O’Brien and Shadow Attorney General John Pesutto have been touted as frontrunners for the job.

However, Mr Pessuto is no guarantee to return to State Parliament. He still trails Labor candidate John Kennedy by 154 votes in his seat of Hawthorn with just under 90 per cent of votes counted.

Mr Battin’s seat of Gembrook is also on a knife’s edge. With just over 87 per cent of votes counted to 2.30pm on Friday, Mr Battin holds an 800 vote advantage over Labor candidate Michael Galea.

He is not yet prepared to claim victory, but appears in the box seat to return for a third term.

The VEC has not yet declared a result in the Gembrook.

A former policeman, Mr Battin grew up in Harkaway and attended Berwick Secondary College. The 42-year-old was elected to the seat of Gembrook in 2010 and held the Emergency Services portfolio in the previous Shadow Ministry.