Brad Battin

Brad Battin
MP
Battin in 2025
Leader of the Opposition in Victoria
In office
27 December 2024 – 18 November 2025
PremierJacinta Allan
DeputySam Groth
Preceded byJohn Pesutto
Succeeded byJess Wilson
Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party
In office
27 December 2024 – 18 November 2025
DeputySam Groth
Preceded byJohn Pesutto
Succeeded byJess Wilson
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Berwick
Incumbent
Assumed office
26 November 2022
Preceded byNew seat
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Gembrook
In office
27 November 2010 – 26 November 2022
Preceded byTammy Lobato
Succeeded bySeat abolished
Personal details
BornBradley William Battin
(1975-12-12) 12 December 1975
NationalityAustralian
PartyLiberal
OccupationPolice officer

Bradley William Battin (born 12 December 1975) is an Australian politician who served as the leader of the Victorian Liberal Party and Victorian opposition leader from 27 December 2024 until 18 November 2025. Battin has served as a member of the for Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2010, first for Gembrook from 2010 to 2022, and then Berwick since 2022.

Battin was elected to the Victorian Liberal Party leadership in a leadership spill caused by the then-leader John Pesutto losing a defamation lawsuit to Moira Deeming. Battin faced a leadership spill on 18 November 2025 and was defeated by Jess Wilson, due to poor polling performance and several scandals.

Early life, education, and pre-political career

Bradley William Battin was born on 12 December 1975[1] to parents Philip and Joan, and raised in the Melbourne suburbs of Harkaway and Berwick.[2] Battin attended Harkaway Primary School and Berwick Secondary College, and left school at 15.[2][3]

Out of high school, Battin worked several hospitality and customer service jobs, before joining Victoria Police in 2001.[2][4] He was posted to Dandenong Police Station, and transferred to Prahran Police Station in 2005.[5][4] During his time as police officer, he obtained a Diploma in Public Safety (Policing) with Victoria Police, and a Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Welfare from the University of Melbourne.[2][3]

In 2007, Battin left the police force and purchased a Bakers Delight franchise in Wheelers Hill, owning it for three years.[3][4]

Battin has worked in several volunteer organisations, including being the president of the Clematis Country Fire Authority brigade and a fundraising chair of the Fred Hollows Foundation.[3]

As an adult, Battin completed a Graduate Certificate in Business and a Master in Business Administration at Victoria University.[3][6]

Political career

Battin was first elected as the member for Gembrook at the November 2010 state election, gaining it from Labor's Tammy Lobato on a margin of 6.8%, representing an approximately 7.5% swing in the Liberal Party's favour.[7][8][9]

At the 2014 Victorian state election, Battin experienced a favourable distribution in his seat, with ABC News reporting that the new notional margin from the last election was 8.8%.[9] Battin was elected solely on first preferences and had a new margin of 9.0%.[9]

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.[10] In 2017, he was appointed the first Victorian Shadow Minister for the Building Industry while retaining the Emergency Services portfolio.[11] During his time as Shadow Minister for Emergency Services he made an inaccurate statement to Parliament regarding a supposed lack of "career firefighters" on the ground during the first hours of the Black Saturday bushfires. His statement was unsupported by the findings of the Royal Commission that investigated and reported on the events and his comments were roundly criticised as offensive by firefighters who had participated in defending against the fire, with Battin later apologising for his mistake on social media.[12][13]

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.[14]

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.[15]

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.[16]

Opposition leader (2024–2025)

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 called for and won the leadership spill succeeding Pesutto as the leader of the Victorian Liberal Party.[17]

On 7 January 2025, Battin unveiled the whole of his Shadow Cabinet, with former leader John Pesutto notably excluded.[18]

On 8 February 2025, following a by-election caused by the resignation of incumbent MP Sam Hibbins, the former Victorian Greens member for Prahran, the Liberal Party won the seat from the Greens with their candidate of Rachel Westaway.[19]

Policies

As leader, he has emphasised the issues of crime, given the rise in violent crime in the state and his police background.[20] He has focused on crime prevention and youth engagement, as well as strengthening police abilities to scan people without a search warrant.[20] Additionally, he has introduced a "break bail, face jail" policy, along with a proposed ban on face coverings at protests and increased police powers at protests.[20]

Battin has campaigned on cost of living issues,[21] and attributed his party's victory at the Prahran by-election on 'listening to locals' on the cost of living crisis.[22]

Despite Battin having a petition to stop the construction of the Suburban Rail Loop on his website, he has said his party will follow through with the project if tunneling begins.[23]

Under his leadership, the Liberal Party of Victoria has promised, if elected, it would revoke treaty legislation passed in October 2025 by the state government.[24][25] This comes after his party already dropped support for the treaty after the Voice referendum was unsuccessful, with all present Liberal MPs voting against the bill.[24][26] Battin attracted criticism from Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell, who accused him of sowing division.[24] Several Liberal MPs, including Jess Wilson, David Southwick, and James Newbury joined those who voted for the bill in applauding speeches.[24]

Stabbing press conference

On 19 August 2025, Battin defended politicising a fatal stabbing when he diverted from his morning commute in order to hold a press conference at the scene of the crime where the body of the victim was still being processed by forensic analysts, prior to the circumstances of the man's death being established and before the victim had been formally identified with next of kin notified. Detective Inspector Dean Thomas from the Victoria Police homicide squad declined to comment when asked if it was appropriate for Battin to hold a press conference at an active crime scene. Victorian Government minister Colin Brooks requested that Battin apologise to the family of the man; Battin rejected this, saying he had "no regrets" over the incident.[27] In the wake of the crime scene issue and resurgent Labor Party polling, conservative media outlets reported that members of the opposition party room had leaked to the media about his significant loss of support within the party room, with one saying that a leadership change was inevitable.[28]

Luxury cruise scandal

In March 2025 a political scandal erupted when Battin was absent from the Parliament during the introduction of high-profile crime reform legislation by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. The criticism erupted from within his own party over a lack of leadership when he explained his week long absence as "visiting his parents" who were impacted by Cyclone Alfred, only for it to be revealed that he had actually spent 4 days on the luxury cruise liner Quantum of the Seas. Battin latter admitted that he was "not upfront" about taking a luxury cruise but that he "did not regret" his failure to appear in Parliament to take a holiday.[29][30]

The scandal was compared by many Liberal Party members to former Prime Minister Scott Morrison taking an overseas holiday in Hawaii during a bushfire crisis in Australia in 2019. In a press conference, Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny criticised Battin for his absence, saying "While the Liberal leader was living it up on a cruise last week, the Allan Labor Government was announcing Australia's toughest bail laws ever".[31]

Firetruck speech

In July 2025 Battin attended and gave a speech on top of a firetruck at a protest in Werribee held by a small number of rural farmers, Country Fire Authority volunteers and Peter Marshall, the National Secretary of the United Firefighters Union of Australia. The protest regarded Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and government changes designed to increase funding for emergency services including the CFA, Victoria State Emergency Service and the 000 emergency telephone number.[32][33] The protest included CFA firetrucks that had been emblazoned with various anti-Government protest slogans alongside Liberal Party branded advertising posters, with one of the vehicles having the phrase "ditch the bitch" featured prominently.[32][33] His appearance was viewed in the media as reminiscent of Tony Abbott's 2011 appearance at a protest against the Julia Gillard government carbon tax where he and a number of MPs from the Liberal party gave speeches alongside signs saying "Ditch the Witch" and "Bob Brown's Bitch". Battin refused to apologise for his appearance at the protest or state whether he had seen the slogans during his attendance.[32]

The slogan was criticised by anti-domestic violence organisations including Respect Victoria. Acting Premier Jaclyn Symes described Battin as "turning a blind to sexist slogans at rallies he attends", as well as referencing ongoing issues within the wider Liberal Party regarding their perception among women in the country. In the wake of the issue, CFA leadership issued a warning over participating in partisan politics and urged the organisation's members to remain apolitical.[34][33]

Cabinet re-shuffle

Following the resignation of senior Liberal MPs Michael O'Brien and David Hodgett, on 11 October 2025, a reshuffle of Battin's shadow ministry occurred.[35] The reshuffle saw three first term MPs, Nicole Werner, Nick McGowan, and Richard Welch.[35][36] It also saw the promotion of former primary challenger Jess Wilson to the Shadow Treasurer portfolio, taking over from Battin ally James Newbury.[37] Battin marketed this as a part of the Victorian coalition's 'fresh start', following a slipping performance in opinion polls.[37] The reshuffle was criticised for promoting factional allies of Battin, rather than deserving individuals within the party.[37]

Renewed leadership tensions ensued from the reshuffle, with both moderate and conservative factions expressing unhappiness with the decisions made by Battin.[38] Speculation arose that Wilson or another Liberal MP would challenge Battin, however Wilson initially refused.[38]

On 27 October 2025, Battin unveiled the outer shadow cabinet, with Moira Deeming promoted to the role of shadow assistant minister for local government, and excluded former leader John Pesutto, despite a push by Liberal MPs to reinclude him in the shadow cabinet.[39]

2025 leadership spill

Main article: 2025 Victorian Liberal Party leadership spill

On 17 November 2025, Battin was faced by a delegation of his party room members lead by first term MP Jess Wilson.[40] The group delivered a statement of no confidence in his leadership and declared their intent to hold a leadership spill the following day.[40]

On 18 November 2025 the party room passed a spill motion 19 votes for 13, vacating Battin's position as Opposition Leader and Sam Groth's position as Deputy.[41] Battin refused to challenge for the leadership, leaving Jess Wilson to take the position unopposed.[41] Groth nominated for, and retained his position, defeating David Southwick by 17 votes to 15.[41]

After the spill, Battin became the shadow minister for police and corrections in Wilson's shadow ministry.[42]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Brad Battin in the Parliament of Victoria
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

Battin is considered to be factionally conservative within the Liberal Party,[43][44][45] although he has disputed this, saying in January 2025 that there is "zero evidence of the fact of me being a conservative".[46]

In 2021, Battin supported increasing the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14.[47]

On his website, Battin has a petition to stop the construction of the Suburban Rail Loop,[48] though has said he will support it if tunneling starts for the project.[23]

Battin opposes pill testing,[49] and supports further gas exploration.[50]

Personal life

Battin is an atheist[51] and a supporter of Geelong in the Australian Football League.[52]

References

  1. ^ "Brad Battin". Members of Parliament. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "About Brad Battin". Brad Battin. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e Johnston, Damon (27 December 2024). "'Daggy dad' with tough-on-crime agenda". The Australian. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Kolovos, Benita (27 December 2025). "Third time lucky for former police officer Brad Battin, who replaces John Pesutto as Victorian Liberal leader". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  5. ^ Jaeger, Broede; Carmody, Carla (28 December 2024). "Liberals jockey for senior positions in new-look shadow cabinet". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  6. ^ Battin, Brad (12 October 2025). "Brad Battin | LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  7. ^ Lambert, Catherine (28 November 2010). "Tammy Lobato blames loss of Gembrook on Labor". Herald Sun. Retrieved 26 December 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Post-Election Pendulum for Victoria". ABC News. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  9. ^ a b c "Gembrook - VIC Electorate, Candidates, Results". ABC News. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ Burrows, Bonny (26 September 2017). "Minister MP given extra portfolio". Pakenham Gazette. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  12. ^ Genevieve, Alison (15 May 2017). "Opposition emergency services spokesman Brad Battin sorry for Black Saturday comment". The Weekly Times Now.
  13. ^ "Battin Offends Professional Firefighters". United Firefighters Union.
  14. ^ Clarke, Mitchell (10 March 2020). "New role for Battin". Pakenham Gazette. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Battin and O'Brien present Victoria's alternative government". www.bradbattin.com.au. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Prahran MP Sam Hibbins resigns from parliament after leaving Greens Party". ABC News. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  20. ^ a b c "Victorian opposition plan to increase powers to search people for weapons". ABC News. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Battin and O'Brien present Victoria's alternative government". www.bradbattin.com.au. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  22. ^ Touma, Rafqa (9 February 2025). "Brad Battin says Liberals ousted Greens in Prahran by 'listening to locals' – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  23. ^ a b Kolovos, Benita (19 August 2025). "Victorian opposition will commit to building Suburban Rail Loop once 'holes have been dug'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  24. ^ a b c d Kolovos, Benita (14 October 2025). "Victorian Coalition vows to scrap Australia's first statewide treaty with First Peoples if it wins government". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  25. ^ Kolovos, Benita (31 October 2025). "Australia's first formal treaty with Indigenous traditional owners passed in Victoria". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  26. ^ "Victorian Liberals will scrap Australian-first Treaty within 100 days if elected". ABC News. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  27. ^ Kolovos, B. (2025), "Victorian Liberal leader defends impromptu press conference at scene of fatal stabbing", The Guardian, retrieved 19 August 2025
  28. ^ Despairing Liberal MPs doubt Brad Battin's leadership, 2025, retrieved 24 August 2025
  29. ^ Raf Epstein (18 March 2025). "Brad Battin says holiday cruise not a 'Scomo moment'". abc.net.au. Melbourne, Victoria: ABC Radio Melbourne. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  30. ^ "Jacinta Allan and Brad Battin face accusations they were less than truthful with Victorians". abc.net.au. Melbourne, Victoria: abc.net.au. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  31. ^ Amy Roulston (18 March 2025). "Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin's Queensland getaway under scrutiny, admits he was not upfront about four-day cruise". skynews.com.au. Melbourne, Victoria: Sky News Australia. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  32. ^ a b c Kolovos, Benita (15 July 2025). "'Disgusting' slogan apparently directed at Victorian premier seen at rally attended by Brad Battin and union boss". Guardian Australia.
  33. ^ a b c Kolovos, Benita (16 July 2025). "Firefighters warned of 'dangers of partisan politics' after truck displays Liberal corflutes at Melbourne protest". Guardian Australia.
  34. ^ Muller, Denis (4 July 2018). "Sexist abuse has a long history in Australian politics – and takes us all to a dark place". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  35. ^ a b Yu, Andi (11 October 2025). "Victorian opposition unveils new shadow cabinet ahead of 2026 state election". ABC News. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  36. ^ Eddie, Chip Le Grand, Rachel (10 October 2025). "State opposition reshuffle renews leadership tensions". The Age. Retrieved 19 October 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ a b c Ilanbey, Sumeyya (11 October 2025). "Battin shuffles Victorian opposition (cue internal tension)". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  38. ^ a b Willingham, Richard (17 October 2025). "Less than a year in, Victoria's opposition leader may be on borrowed time". ABC News. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  39. ^ "Key Liberal snubbed in Battin's shadow ministry shake-up". Herald Sun. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  40. ^ a b Willingham, Richard (17 November 2025). "Victorian Liberal leader Brad Battin facing leadership challenge". ABC News. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  41. ^ a b c "Jess Wilson becomes first woman to lead Victorian Liberals". ABC News. 17 November 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  42. ^ "New leader Jess Wilson to remain Vic shadow treasurer under reshuffle". ABC News. 30 November 2025. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  43. ^ 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.
  44. ^ 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.
  45. ^ 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.
  46. ^ 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.
  47. ^ 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.
  48. ^ "Tell Labor to cancel the Suburban Rail Loop now!". www.bradbattin.com.au. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  49. ^ "'It's ok to say no': Vic Shadow Police Minister slams pill testing debate". Sky News Australia. 20 January 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  50. ^ Hannaford, Patrick (14 January 2025). "Liberal leader Brad Battin says Victoria Police must 'reallocate' resources from woke and bureaucratic commands to community safety". Sky News. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  51. ^ 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
  52. ^ Battin, Brad (12 September 2015). "Brad Battin - As an avid Geelong Cats supporter I thought #September would be terrible. Tonight the #AFLFinals was as good as any Final I have seen. 2 teams threw everything at a great game. Well done to both Western Bulldogs and Adelaide Football Club". Facebook. Retrieved 20 October 2025.

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