MEMBER for Mornington, Chris Crewther, has vowed to focus on a Liberal win in November after failing in his bid for the deputy leadership of the Victorian Liberal Party.
The position opened up after the announcement by Nepean MP Sam Groth that he would not be contesting November’s election and would relinquish his deputy leadership role (Groth calls game, set and match on political career, The News 13/1/26).
David Southwick, who had previously served as deputy to both Matthew Guy and John Pesutto, was challenged by Crewther, who is in his first term as a state member, after previously representing Dunkley in federal parliament.
The role was put to a party room vote on Wednesday 28 January, with Southwick winning 23 to 6 with two votes deemed informal.
In a statement on social media, Crewther said “Today I put my hand up for the open vacancy of deputy leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, following the resignation of Sam Groth MP effective today”.
“In a democratic vote of the Party Room, unfortunately I was unsuccessful.
“I congratulate David Southwick MP on being elected, and on his return to the Deputy Leader role.
“Now that the deputy leadership position is locked in, it’s so important that we continue working as hard as ever to elect a Victorian Liberal Government, led by Jess Wilson MP and David, and Bev McArthur MP and Evan Mulholland MP in the upper house.
“After nearly 12 years in a row of a Labor Government, things are falling apart and Victorians want action: whether it comes to roads, ambulance ramping, education infrastructure investment, growing debt, massive waste, cost-of-living pressures, and crime”.
First published in the Mornington News – 10 February 2026
