Introducing Brad Battin - the new Opposition Leader

As all of you would know by now, over the Christmas break, the Victorian Liberals underwent a huge churn. ?We have a new leader – Brad Battin MP, Member from nearby Berwick.

I was away in the US with my sons during that time on a holiday that was planned nine months ago. I did offer to come back for the vote, but at the end that was not required.

In this post, I want to share a small, yet instructive story, about Brad that reflects who he is as a person, not just a politician.

Last October was helping fundraise for a wheelchair-friendly car for little Ivani Pathre, a gorgeous 5-year-old Preppie (now in Year 1) who lives in my constituency of Ringwood. Apart from sending an email to all my supporters, I sent the email seeking help to all my parliamentary colleagues as well.

Brad Battin was the first MP to respond. Without prompting, Brad made a personal financial donation.

Brad’s donation was instinctive, generous, and like most Victorians who supported the appeal, he did it without fanfare. There was no attempt to capitalise on his gesture through social media posts about what he did – it was just a human gesture extended to a family in need at my request.

Nor was his kindness towards Ivani, in any way, a one-off. He and wife have been supporting a school in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, for many years – again something he rarely talks about. I only found out through a chance conversation with him in recent years, after having known him for more than two decades.

What people do, when others are not watching, is the best window into their character. And I can say with confidence that Brad conducts himself with the same everyday decency behind closed doors that you and I do – what you see is what you get.

So, what do I see?

I see a calm, considered and yet confident man whose life experiences aren’t all that much different from yours and mine.

As has been reported in the media, Brad grew up in the suburbs of Melbourne, and like me, attended local public schools. Unlike me, however, he didn’t immediately go to university and instead worked jobs in retail, customer service and corrections before joining Victoria police. (Years later, Brad returned to study, completing a bachelor’s and later, a Master’s degree in Business Administration).

Brad left his vocation with the Victorian police force in 2007 (as a Senior Constable) to open a Bakers Delight franchise – I just love this detail – and it was his experience of running a small business that led him to joining the Liberal Party.

Brad was first elected to Parliament in 2010 – and has since been a passionate and tireless representative of his local constituents, evident in the fact that he has continued to hold his seat despite it being dissolved as Gemrook and reassembled as Berwick in 2022.

As someone who also grew up in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, attending local public schools and doing odd jobs from early on to support himself and family – I feel an affinity with Brad’s journey, especially as sometimes the perception of us pollies is one of being ‘pedigreed’.

In fact, just this week, Brad came down to Ringwood and we sat over a cuppa in Eastland, among throngs of shoppers, and chatted at considerable length about all things local.

I can’t spill the beans yet but keep an eye out for a joint announcement from us!