Brad Battin

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

Battin was elected to the Victorian Liberal Party leadership in a leadership spill in December 2024 caused by the leader John Pesutto losing a defamation lawsuit to Moira Deeming. Battin faced a leadership spill in 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 to parents Philip and Joan, and raised in the Melbourne suburbs of Harkaway and Berwick. 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, along with reaching the rank of Senior Constable.

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.

Member of Parliament 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. Battin was elected solely on first preferences and had a new margin of 9.0%.

During his time as Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Battin made an incorrect statement to Parliament, claiming that there was a lack of "career firefighters" on the ground during the first hours of the Black Saturday bushfires. He later backtracked his comments, saying he was only referring to a specific fire at Bunyip State Park, which was also untrue, as professional firefighters had been there three days prior. Battin later apologised for his mistake on radio and on social media. Battin attracted strong criticism from many firefighters, including Metropolitan Fire Brigade Acting Commander Mick Tisbury who also called for him to step down, saying: We're disgusted by the actions of the allegedly honourable member for Gembrook[.] We demand that he stands aside ... I really think he needs to reconsider his position as a member of parliament. He obviously knows nothing about firefighting, he doesn't know what we do and he doesn't respect us.

At the 2018 state election, Battin suffered an 8.2% swing against him to Labor's Michael Galea, being reduced to a margin of 0.8%. In the aftermath of the election, Michael O'Brien became the new opposition leader, after which he created his shadow ministry. In the new ministry, Battin kept emergency services portfolio, gained the youth justice, crime prevention, and victim support portfolios, and did not continue as the Shadow Minister for the Building Industry.

In March 2020, Battin lost the emergency services portfolio, while becoming the Shadow Minister for Roads (Metropolitan) and Shadow Minister for Road Safety and the TAC.

2021 leadership challenges

On 16 March 2021, Battin moved a spill against the leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, Michael O'Brien. According to ABC News, the spill was a result O'Brien's failure to effectively criticise the Andrews government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After his loss, Battin said that he had "[no] regrets" for moving the spill and backed O'Brien's leadership. In the new shadow ministry, Battin and his supporters from the front bench before the challenge returned. In this re-distribution, the seat of Gembrook was abolished, and the seat of Berwick created, with half the voters from the former seat of Gembrook, and the other half from nearby electorates. Battin contested the seat and won on a margin of 4.7%, representing a notional swing of 3.4% towards him. He was endorsed by two of the candidates for deputy leader Ryan Smith and Richard Riordan. The contest came down to one vote, with John Pesutto, the moderate member for Hawthorn, winning with 17 votes to Battin's 16. After the election of Pesutto, Battin was offered shadow cabinet positions, Speaking after the spill, Battin said he will "back John Pesutto 100 per cent." After the rally, on 12 May 2023, the Victorian Liberal Party voted to oust Deeming, however Battin did not support the motion, attempting to delay the vote a week with fellow MP Richard Riordan. On 21 December, The Age reported that Battin would move a spill against Pesutto and vote to re-admit Deeming, as a result of Pesutto's defamation loss. The spill motion against passed 18 votes to 10, after which Battin and MPs Chris Crewther and Jess Wilson went into a leadership contest, in which Wilson placed third. In the second round of voting Battin attained 21 votes to Crewther's seven, hence becoming Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition. On 7 January 2025, Battin unveiled the whole of his shadow cabinet, with former leader John Pesutto notably excluded. The Age reported that allies of Deeming were rewarded in the new cabinet with promotions.

On 8 February 2025, two by-elections took place. In Werribee, generally considered to be a Labor stronghold, with a margin of 10.9% at the 2022 election, was reduced to 0.5%, representing a 10.4% swing. In Prahran, Liberal Rachel Westaway gained the seat from the Victorian Greens, holding it on a margin of 1.5%. The results were generally considered a indictment of the Allan government, and supportive of Battin's Liberal party. Battin commented there was "a very strong message in this campaign and this election" for Labor, while Ben Carroll said voters were "loud and clear" that they "need[ed] more" from the government.

Policies As leader, Battin emphasised the issue of crime, given the rise in violent crime in the state. Additionally, he introduced a "break bail, face jail" policy, along with a proposed ban on face coverings at protests and increased police powers at protests.

Under his leadership, the Liberal Party promised, that if elected, it would only follow through with the Suburban Rail Loop project if tunneling begins.

During Battin's tenure as leader, the Liberal Party of Victoria promised, if elected, it would revoke treaty legislation passed in October 2025 by the state government. This Liberal Party, under John Pesutto, had already dropped support for the treaty after the Voice referendum was unsuccessful. Battin's decision attracted criticism from Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell, who accused him of sowing division. Battin later 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.

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".

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.

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.

Stabbing press conference

On 19 August 2025, 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. This also came when neither the identity of the victim was formally known nor the circumstances of the victim's death having been established. Battin defended his decision to politicise the murder, saying he was showing "the consequences of what happens when you don't act [on crime]." 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. 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. The reshuffle saw three first term MPs, Nicole Werner, Nick McGowan, and Richard Welch. It also saw the promotion of former primary challenger Jess Wilson to the Shadow Treasurer portfolio, taking over from Battin ally James Newbury. Battin marketed this as a part of the Victorian coalition's 'fresh start', following a slipping performance in opinion polls.

On 27 October 2025, Battin unveiled the outer shadow cabinet, with the controversial 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.

2025 leadership spill

On 17 November 2025, Battin was faced by a delegation of his party room members led by first term MP Jess Wilson. The group delivered a statement of no confidence in his leadership and declared their intent to hold a leadership spill the following day. Battin refused to challenge for the leadership, leaving Jess Wilson to take the position unopposed.

Electoral history

Political positions Battin is considered to be factionally conservative within the Liberal Party. However, he has disputed this, claiming in a January 2025 interview that there is "zero evidence of the fact of [him] being a conservative".

In an interview with Sky News, Battin stated that he opposes pill testing, saying "we need to make sure that kids can get referrals and referred in the right direction, rather than going in and saying it's ok to have the drugs at these festivals". In 2025, Battin stated that he supports further gas exploration.

Policing In 2021, Battin supported increasing the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14. In 2024, Guardian Australia reported that Battin tended to be more progressive when it came to issues on criminal justice, citing his view that low-level and white collar crimes should not be met with prison sentences, and his endorsement of justice reinvestment initiatives. Battin currently lives his electorate of Berwick with his family.

Battin is an atheist and a supporter of Geelong in the Australian Football League.