It was a case of out with the old and in with the new as the Coalition unveiled its shadow cabinet, promoting nine MPs to the frontbench.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said on Wednesday the new shadow cabinet represented generational change, with former premier Denis Napthine, ex- Nationals leader Peter Ryan, and former ministers Louise Asher, Wendy Lovell, Martin Dixon, Terry Mulder and Kim Wells all moving to the backbench.
"It's time for change, it's time to move on. It's time to inject some new faces into the Coalition ministry and our shadow ministry will be formed of predominantly newer faces."
Two first-term MPs have been catapulted to the front bench - 28-year-old Nationals deputy leader Steph Ryan has been appointed the training, skills and apprenticeships and young Victorians portfolio and Dr Napthine's former legal counsel John Pesutto will serve as shadow attorney-general.
Only five of the 24 MPs in the new shadow cabinet are female. By comparison Labor has nine women in cabinet.
Mr Guy said the Liberal Party needed to do more to recruit women.
"This will be a key focus of my term as leader of the Liberal Party, to inject newer women, younger women into our parliamentary line-up and I'll do that in every opportunity and you will see more of that over the next four years."
Recruiting more females to the frontbench is a difficult task given there are only 13 female Coalition MPs in parliament.
Leader of the opposition in the upper house Mary Wooldridge will take on the key portfolio of health, while new deputy Liberal leader David Hodgett will serve as shadow minister for public transport. Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling is shadow education minister. Former treasurer Michael O'Brien - who lost a leadership ballot to Mr Guy - will serve as shadow treasurer. Ed O'Donohue is the new shadow police minister and David Davis will take on the planning portfolio.
"I am very confident that this is a shadow cabinet that will be productive, energetic and fit a new approach, indeed a more refreshed approach for the Coalition in Victoria," Mr Guy said on Wednesday, just weeks after the Coalition was defeated at the state election.
He said the shadow cabinet would hold the Andrews government to account and had the right mix of experience and new talent.
"The Coalition frontbench is one that is the best people, in the right positions doing the best job for Victorians to be an alternative government."
Georgie Crozier, David Southwick, Neale Burgess, Brad Battin, David Morris, Inga Peulich and Craig Ondarchie have all been promoted to the frontbench.
The Coalition has scrapped climate change as a distinct portfolio, despite previously having an Environment and Climate Change Minister.
The new Opposition front bench
MATTHEW GUY Leader of the Opposition
PETER WALSH Deputy Coalition Leader, agriculture, water
DAVID HODGETT Deputy Liberal Leader, public transport, ports
STEPH RYAN Deputy Nationals Leader,
training/skills/apprenticeships, young Victorians
MICHAEL O'BRIEN Shadow treasurer
MARY WOOLDRIDGE Heath
NICK WAKELING Education
JOHN PESUTTO Shadow attorney-general
RYAN SMITH Roads and infrastructure, industry
DAVID DAVIS Planning, local government, equality
ROBERT CLARK Industrial relations, opposition business
GEORGIE CROZIER Families and children, prevention of family violence, women, shadow cabinet secretary
DAMIAN DRUM Regional development, veterans, sport
GORDON RICH-PHILLIPS
Shadow special minister of state, assistant treasurer
BRAD BATTIN Environment, emergency services
TIM BULL Disability, seniors, mental health, housing, racing
NEALE BURGESS Small and medium enterprises
DAVID MORRIS Finance
RUSSELL NORTHE Consumer affairs, liquor and gaming
EDWARD O'DONOHUE Police, community safety, corrections
CRAIG ONDARCHIE Investment and jobs, trade
INGA PEULICH Multicultural affairs, scrutiny of government
DAVID SOUTHWICK Innovation, energy/resources, renewables
HEIDI VICTORIA Arts/culture, tourism/events, aboriginal affairs
OUT: DENNIS NAPTHINE, PETER RYAN, LOUISE ASHER, TERRY MULDER, MARTIN DIXON, KIM WELLS
