Brad Battin
Brad Battin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Battin in 2023 | |
| Leader of the Opposition in Victoria | |
| Assumed office 27 December 2024 | |
| Premier | Jacinta Allan |
| Deputy | Sam Groth |
| Preceded by | John Pesutto |
| Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party | |
| Assumed office 27 December 2024 | |
| Deputy | Sam Groth |
| Preceded by | John Pesutto |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Berwick | |
| Assumed office 26 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | New seat |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Gembrook | |
| In office 27 November 2010 – 26 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Tammy Lobato |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bradley William Battin 12 December 1975 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Occupation | Police officer |
Bradley William Battin (born 12 December 1975[1]) is an Australian politician who has served as the leader of the Victorian Liberal Party since 27 December 2024, and as member for Berwick in the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2022. He was previously the member for Gembrook from 2010 until the seat was abolished in 2022 following the 2021 redistribution. He was formerly a police officer and owned a bakery in Wheelers Hill.[1]
Early life and career
[edit]Battin obtained a Diploma in Public Safety (Policing) with the Victoria Police, and a Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Welfare from the University of Melbourne.[2] In 2020 Battin completed a Graduate Certificate in Business, he went on to complete his Master in Business Administration at Victoria University. [citation needed]
Political career
[edit]Battin was first elected as the member for Gembrook at the November 2010 state election and was re-elected in 2014 and 2018. Following a redistribution causing the seat of Gembrook to be abolished, Battin was elected to the new seat of Berwick at the 2022.
In 2014, following the defeat of the Napthine government, Battin was promoted to the new Shadow Cabinet under Matthew Guy as the Shadow Minister for Emergency Services and Environment.[3] In 2017, he was appointed the first Victorian Shadow Minister for the Building Industry while still retaining the Emergency Services portfolio.[4]
In 2020, Battin moved to Shadow Minister for Youth Justice, Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention, Shadow Minister for Victim Support, Shadow Minister for Roads (Metro), Shadow Minister for Road Safety and the TAC.[5]
In March 2021, Battin attempted to oust Michael O'Brien as leader of the state Liberal Party, but was defeated in a 22–9 vote, following which he resigned from his shadow ministry positions.[6]
After the Liberal Party lost the 2022 state election, Battin ran in the subsequent Liberal Party state leadership election after previous leader Matthew Guy resigned. He was endorsed by two of his former election challengers Ryan Smith and Richard Riordan, but lost the vote 17–16 to John Pesutto, the member for Hawthorn.[7]
Opposition leader (2024–present)
[edit]In December 2024, following internal party fractures over the banning of Moira Deeming from the Liberal party room, and the loss of a defamation case by then-leader John Pesutto, Battin won a leadership spill succeeding Pesutto as the leader of the Victorian Liberal Party.[8]
Electoral history
[edit]| Year | Electorate | Party | First Preference Result | Two Candidate Result | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | +% | Position | Votes | % | +% | Result | |||
| 2010 | Gembrook | Liberal | 18,427 | 47.93 | +7.77 | 1st | 21,926 | 56.75 | +7.35 | Elected |
| 2014 | 20,646 | 54.7 | +1.2 | 1st | 22,324 | 59.0 | +0.2 | Elected | ||
| 2018 | 21,202 | 48.26 | −6.42 | 1st | 22,313 | 50.79 | −8.16 | Elected | ||
| 2022 | Berwick | 20,031 | 45.2 | −2.6 | 1st | 24,230 | 54.7 | +3.4 | Elected | |
Political positions
[edit]Battin is considered to be factionally conservative within the Liberal Party,[9][10][11] although he has disputed this, saying in January 2025 that there is "zero evidence of the fact of me being a conservative".[12]
In 2021, Battin supported increasing the age of criminal responsibility.[13]
Battin opposes pill testing.[14]
Personal life
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Brad Battin". Members of Parliament. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ About Brad Battin
- ^ "Victorian Coalition announces shadow cabinet of 24, with 10 new faces, led by Matthew Guy". ABC News. 17 December 2014. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ Burrows, Bonny (26 September 2017). "Minister MP given extra portfolio". Pakenham Gazette. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ Clarke, Mitchell (10 March 2020). "New role for Battin". Pakenham Gazette. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ Smethurst, Annika; Sakkal, Paul (16 March 2021). "Liberal challenger quits frontbench after failing to topple O'Brien". The Age. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ McCubbing, Gus (8 December 2022). "John Pesutto wins Liberal leadership in Victoria by one vote". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ Jaeger, Carla; Carmody, Broede; Le Grand, Chip (27 December 2024). "Brad Battin wins vote to become Liberal leader". The Age. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ Ore, Adeshola (2 December 2022). "Victorian Liberal leadership hopeful John Pesutto to push for more women MPs". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 December 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
The race to lead the party narrowed to two contenders on Thursday after the Polwarth MP Richard Riordan pulled out, saying he would support Brad Battin from the party's conservative wing, who is contesting alongside the moderate Pesutto.
- ^ Kolovos, Benita (24 December 2024). "Embattled John Pesutto makes bid to shore up support ahead of Victorian Liberal leadership spill". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 December 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
The moderates had been imploring Battin – a conservative – to give Wilson the position, in a show of unity between the party's bitterly divided groups.
- ^ Schmidt, Nathan (26 December 2024). "Liberal MP Brad Battin to challenge leader John Pesutto after Boxing Day call". The Australian. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
Mr Battin, a member of the party's conservative faction and former police officer, was Member for Gembrook from 2010 until 2022 when the seat was abolished.
- ^ Carmody, Broede (9 January 2025). "Who's a conservative? Battin opens up on abortion, tax and past votes on key issues". The Age. Archived from the original on 11 January 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ Ilanbey, Sumeyya; Fowler, Michael (27 May 2021). "Liberal MPs break ranks in push to raise age of criminality to 14". Archived from the original on 27 December 2024.
Mr Battin advocated for the age of criminality to be raised, on the proviso governments strengthened services to support at-risk youth.
- ^ "'It's ok to say no': Vic Shadow Police Minister slams pill testing debate". Sky News Australia. 20 January 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ Jaeger, Carla; Carmody, Broede (27 December 2024). "Brad Battin, having rolled Pesutto, promises unity and makes election pitch". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
Battin, a self-described atheist
