Brad Battin

Brad Battin
MP
Battin in 2023
Leader of the Opposition in Victoria
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 December 2024
PremierJacinta Allan
DeputySam Groth
Preceded byJohn Pesutto
Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 December 2024
DeputySam Groth
Preceded byJohn Pesutto
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
Born
Bradley William Battin

(1975-12-12) 12 December 1975
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal
OccupationPolice 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.

Early life and career

Battin joined Victoria Police in 2001 and was posted to Dandenong Police Station.[1][2] During his time as police officer, he 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. He transferred to Prahran Police Station in 2005.[2]

In 2007, Battin purchased a Bakers Delight bakery in Wheelers Hill.[1][2]

In 2020, Battin completed a Graduate Certificate in Business, he went on to complete his Master in Business Administration at Victoria University.

Political career

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 election.

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)

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.[8]

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 an luxury cruise but that he "did not regret" his failure to appear in Parliament to take a holiday.[9][10]

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. Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny criticised Battin for his absence in a press conference, 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".[11]

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,[12][13][14] although he has disputed this, saying in January 2025 that there is "zero evidence of the fact of me being a conservative".[15]

In 2021, Battin supported increasing the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14.[16]

Battin opposes pill testing.[17]

Battin supports further gas exploration.[18]

Personal life

Battin is an atheist.[19]

Battin is a supporter of Geelong in the Australian Football League (AFL).[20] He is also a supporter of English Premier League club Arsenal.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Brad Battin". Members of Parliament. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "About Brad Battin". Brad Battin. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ Burrows, Bonny (26 September 2017). "Minister MP given extra portfolio". Pakenham Gazette. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  5. ^ Clarke, Mitchell (10 March 2020). "New role for Battin". Pakenham Gazette. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "'It's ok to say no': Vic Shadow Police Minister slams pill testing debate". Sky News Australia. 20 January 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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
  20. ^ https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1134706073226106&id=100057749694047

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