Danny O'Brien

Daniel David O'Brien (born 2 April 1974) is an Australian politician who currently serves as the member Gippsland South in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. He has been the leader of the Victorian National Party since November 2024.

Career O'Brien was born and raised in Traralgon in Victoria's Gippsland region’s Latrobe City. He began his career as a journalist, and later became chief of staff to Peter Ryan, then a senior advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile, and worked in the trade department of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. He then became chief of staff to Senator Barnaby Joyce, but within six months was preselected to replace the Nationals then-member for Eastern Victoria Region, Peter Hall, who had resigned from the Victorian Legislative Council on 17 March 2014. O'Brien was appointed to replace Hall at a joint sitting of the Victorian Parliament on 26 March.

In February 2015, O'Brien sought and gained pre-selection for the lower house seat of Gippsland South, in the March 2015 by-election brought about by the resignation of Peter Ryan, who was the former Deputy Premier of Victoria. He won the by-election on 14 March.

On 25 November 2024, Peter Walsh resigned as the leader of the Victorian National Party. O'Brien was elected unopposed as his replacement.