The recent elevation of Angus Taylor to leader of the Liberal Party generated an expected avalanche of commentary. The reactions ranged over most points of the compass. In some, Taylor was depicted as a final leadership throw of the dice to avert the slide of the Liberals towards electoral oblivion. In others, he was a man with the right stuff to put the party “on track” (that is, to propel it further towards conservative populism).
However, one salient point missing in the tens of thousands of words expended on Taylor’s ascension was that it continued the now 36-year exile of Victorians from the Liberal Party’s helm.
The state has not produced a leader of the party since Andrew Peacock was defeated by John Hewson in April 1990. Over that time, the Liberals have changed leader 11 times, yet none has been from Victoria.
