Article
Victorian election disaster for Liberals as loss sparks accusations and apologies
A senior Victorian Liberal MP is calling for a “root-and-branch review” of the party after its devastating election loss, while a federal counterpart has apologised for the impact Malcolm Turnbull’s axing had on the result.
Key points:
- Senior Victorian Liberal MPs have lost their seats on a dire night for the party
- Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Mr Turnbull’s axing “didn’t determine the outcome”
- Shadow Attorney-General John Pesutto is among the Liberals who could be out of a job
Labor had an easy win in the Victorian election, returning Premier Daniel Andrews to power, after benefiting from large swings in Melbourne’s east.
Among the Liberal MPs at risk of losing their job was Shadow Attorney-General John Pesutto, who said “something’s gone horribly wrong” as he watched the vote count narrow in his own seat of Hawthorn.
“We shouldn’t be in this position — we did a lot of things right but obviously something’s gone horribly wrong,” he said.
“We’re going to clearly have to do a root-and-branch review, top to bottom, of all of this.
“My own preference would be that the party needs to take urgent action to re-orient, and get back on the right foot.”