Dumped MP could be next leader
A RETURNING Liberal MP who sensationally lost his blue-ribbon seat live on air during the 2018 election is ramping up efforts to be the party’s next leader.
John Pesutto narrowly beat teal opponent Melissa Lowe to snatch the seat of Hawthorn in Melbourne’s leafy inner east on Wednesday amid talk of his plans once in parliament.
The former shadow attorney-general is one of three candidates vying for the party’s top job after Matthew Guy was ousted due to a disastrous election result.
However, Mr Pesutto, who worked as a lawyer and consultant, is a moderate, unlike his opponents Brad Battin and Richard Riordan, who represent the party’s rightwing faction.
He’s said to be hoping this status at the centre will get some of the party’s fresh young faces, including Kew’s Jess Wilson and tennis star Sam Groth of Nepean, on side.
However, Mr Riordan said the Liberals needed to maintain their traditional stances if voters were to switch.
“There are some really good things that we can take out of this election,” he said. “The Coalition message sold really well in regional Victoria and it sold really well in the inner city, where the media were saying we had lost touch with. We’ve proved that wrong.”
Just 1000 votes separated Mr Pesutto and high-profile independent candidate Ms Lowe when the seat was called on Wednesday evening.
It comes four years after Mr Pesutto shockingly lost his seat to Labor’s John Kennedy while partaking in election coverage.
Mr Kennedy, who was the area’s first Labor representative in more than half a century, conceded defeat on Wednesday. Fellow moderate Ms Wilson, who is expected to win the neighbouring seat of Kew after embattled former member Tim Smith’s resignation, is reportedly being encouraged to run for deputy. The party so far has secured just 25 seats compared with the 27 held last cycle.