In a bid to put an end to infighting and instability, the Victorian Liberals have emerged from a critical party room meeting today with a new leader. Brad Battin has claimed the top job after MPs voted to turf John Pesutto. But before they did that, they brought exiled MP Moira Deeming back into the fold.
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00:00Opposition MPs piling into the party room one by one.
00:07A familiar scene just a week since Liberal MPs last gathered to sort out their internal problems.
00:14But that's where the Christmas cheer ended.
00:18John Pursuto's leadership doomed after his crushing defamation defeat to Moira Deeming.
00:23Where we're at now is we're not asking John, we're telling him to take it off him.
00:27I will be backing someone that has backed Moira and supported her, that I think has good character.
00:35Are you embarrassed by all this?
00:37Let us go into the meeting and we'll come out to you later.
00:39The first order of business, ending Moira Deeming's exile. She was straight back in.
00:45Then on to the main fight. Brad Batten, Jess Wilson and Chris Crutha all vying to be leader.
00:51The former police officer locking up the votes.
00:54As we move forward, we'll be moving forward as a united team.
00:58How disappointed are you?
01:00No, no, I wake up every day Paul and I'm very honoured and privileged to serve the people of Hawthorne.
01:06The new leadership team, all men.
01:08I fought to bring a woman back into the party room and I will continue to make sure that females and women are heard.
01:14I think it only further demonstrates how out of touch they are with the Victorian people. It's the same old Liberal story.
01:22John Pursuto was leading in the polls, but that wasn't enough for MPs who wanted Ms Deeming back and a different style of leader.
01:29Brad Batten promising smaller government and a greater focus on battling crime.
01:34I want the best team going forward, not one based on facts, no alliances.
01:38We will make sure that we present a united option, a viable alternative for the Victorian people.
01:43We are a team and we're going to rise and we're going to fall. We'll rise or we'll fall together.
01:48And the Victorian Liberals know that is all too true.
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