A major Liberal leadership rival has been promoted in a frontbench reshuffle as a state opposition faces an uphill battle at the next election.
Victorian Liberal MP Jess Wilson was elevated the high-profile treasury portfolio in a shadow cabinet reshuffle unveiled on Saturday.
Ms Wilson, from the party's moderate wing, lost to Brad Battin in a vote to replace John Pesutto as Victorian opposition leader in late 2024.
Brighton MP James Newbury was stripped of the treasury role despite backing Mr Battin in that contest and now takes on the shadow attorney general job made vacant by former party leader Michael O'Brien.
Mr O'Brien is one of two frontbench retirements to trigger the reshuffle.
Factional tensions have rumbled through the Victorian Liberals since the 2022 state election.
Much of it has centred on the high-profile defamation battle between Mr Pesutto and outspoken MP Moira Deeming, who successfully sued him after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis.Â
Mr Pesutto remains on the backbench after the party loaned him $1.55 million to settle his debt to Mrs Deeming, prompting another legal stoush over the legality of the payment.
First-term MPs Nicole Werner, Nick McGowan and Richard Welch were elevated to the frontbench.
Ms Warner has built a following on social media and takes on youth justice, while Mr McGowan and Mr Welch's portfolios include victims and industrial relations, respectively.
Roma Britnell, who appeared alongside Mr Pesutto heading into a key partyroom leadership meeting in 2024, was dumped from shadow cabinet.
Under Mr Battin, the Victorian opposition has slid in recent polls despite the third-term Labor government facing a crime wave and soaring debt.
Mr Battin spoke at a media conference on Saturday alongside his new frontbench members but other MPs did not attend.
"I've put together a team that I think is the best team moving forward," Mr Battin told reporters.
"One that I think is in the ultimate position for what we can do to take to the next election and put our policies forward."
He said the trio would bring in new skills and committed to taking the front bench to the November 2026 election, even though it includes seven upper house members which is one more than allowed under the state's constitution.
Mr McGowan is attempting to move to the lower house and has nominated himself for the seat of Ringwood, held by former Labor MP turned independent Will Fowles.
Deputy leader and former tennis ace Sam Groth has dropped major events in favour of public transport, ports and aviation, while former leader Matthew Guy is now responsible for major projects.
Evan Mulholland takes on Ms Wilson's education portfolio.