General News
26 November, 2024
Kealy remains deputy after Victorian Nationals leader Walsh steps down
The change in leadership was confirmed at a Nationals party room meeting.
Lowan MP Emma Kealy will remain deputy leader of the Victorian Nationals after the resignation from the party's leader.
Long time leader Peter Walsh resigned after almost a decade in the top job, with Gippsland South MP Danny O'Brien elected unopposed as his replacement.
The change in leadership was confirmed at a Nationals party room meeting at state parliament on Tuesday, November 26.
The Nationals said in a statement that Mr O'Brien, 50, was elected after Mr Walsh advised he would step down as leader.
"It is the greatest honour to have been elected as leader of the Nationals," Mr O'Brien said.
"For over 100 years, the Nationals have served the interests of rural and regional Victoria. That will not change.
"It remains our singular focus as the only party solely dedicated to serving the interests of the 25 per cent of the population who live outside the metropolitan area.
Mr Walsh, who turned 70 in January, has led the Victorian Nationals since December 2014.
He served as a minister in the Baillieu and Napthine Coalition governments
It is unclear whether he will retire as the Member for Murray Plains at the 2026 election.
Mr O'Brien said he entered politics because he believed rural and regional people "get a raw deal".
"As leader of our great party, I will fight every day for country people to get a fair go," he said.
Mr O'Brien was born and raised in Gippsland and is the youngest of seven children.
He worked at the Gippsland Times and Maffra Spectator, before taking up a TV journalism career.
He served as chief of staff and media adviser for former Nationals leader Peter Ryan and became the Member for Gippsland South in March 2014.