By LIAM DURKIN and KATRINA BRANDON

 

WHILE one former Traralgon resident is beginning their journey in a high profile job, another could still be under fire to keep theirs.

Andrew McQualter has taken on the job as coach of West Coast Eagles in the AFL – described as “the job no one wants” in football circles.

John Pesutto meanwhile hangs onto the state opposition leadership, because “no one else can do a better job”, according to Liberal frontbench MP Georgie Crozier.

“The question everyone must ask is, who is best to maximise our electoral prospects in 2026? The answer is John Pesutto,” Crozier told The Age.

Mr Pesutto could face a leadership spill this week, when MPs meet at Parliament House for sitting week.

Pressure has heaped upon the Traralgon-born Liberal leader, as collateral from the ongoing defamation case against former Liberal MP Moira Deeming drags on.

The trial has entered its third week.

Speaking on ABC radio last week, Mr Pesutto refuted claims there were calls for a leadership challenge.

“The truth is when you look at all the objective facts over recent months, I think it’s pretty clear, I don’t want to comment on a specific poll, but if you look at the trend, we have clearly established a solid and decisive lead over the Allan Labor government,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne Drive.

“I can honestly tell you there’s a growing optimism inside the wider Liberal party as well that we can see a pathway to victory in 2026, and why that is important, because it’s about good government in this state.”

With the defamation case hanging over his head, Mr Pesutto moved to reassure there was stability within the party room.

“What I want to demonstrate to Victorians is that people will know when it comes to transparency and accountability, I walk the walk,” he said.

“I can’t influence the stories that are being made.”

Nationals leader David Littleproud was in Traralgon last week, but chose to distance himself from the speculation.

“That’s a matter for the Victorian Liberal Party,” he said.

“I hope just one way or another that the Victorian Liberal party sort themselves out.”

Senior Liberals and their Nationals counterparts, including Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull, were in Melbourne last week at the Royal Show.

When pressed by reporters for a comment, state Nationals leader Peter Walsh suggested his Liberal colleagues “Go and have a long cold shower and get on with your job.”

Three potential candidates have emerged to possibly take the Liberal leadership from Mr Pesutto. They are: Member for Brighton James Newbury, Member for Berwick for Brad Battin, and former professional tennis player and now Member for Nepean Sam Groth.

Ms Deeming maintains Mr Pesutto defamed her by suggesting or implying she was a Nazi in comments he made following the Let Women Speak rally.

The March 2023 event was gate crashed by neo-Nazis who performed the Nazi salute on the steps of state Parliament.

Regardless of how any potential leadership spill plays out, it could act as a catalyst for the state government to win a fourth successive term in office.

The weight of hypocrisy could well work in their favour as well.

The opposition maintains Labor “can’t manage money”, yet it appears the Liberals are struggling to even manage themselves.

However, in what was a busy week for major political party point scoring, the state government has had its own public relations issue to deal with.

Predictably, news that former Premier Daniel Andrews will be honoured with a statue has divided opinion.

Mr Andrews is entitled to a statue, having served more than 3000 days as the state’s leader, a stipulation which was, ironically, introduced by former Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett.

This is the second Andrews-related adulation in less than six months to rile voters, after he was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in this year’s King’s Birthday honours.