“If those people who are the front of the party’s external face don’t reflect the community we seek to serve,then we have got issues,” he said.
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“These are the demographics that we need to be resonating with,and now we have the opportunity to do that.”
Wilson,who fended off a threat from a teal independent to win the seat of Kew,has been rewarded with portfolios of finance,economic reform and homeownership,and believes tackling housing affordability will “resonate” with her generation.
“We need to focus on finding ways to create opportunities for people to own their own homes and have their own little piece of this great state,” she said.
According to Pesutto,younger MPs like Wilson,Rowswell,Mulholland,who will take on the position of cabinet secretary;and former tennis star Sam Groth,who will be spokesman for tourism,sport,events and youth,are part of the “new blood in the shadow cabinet” that he said can lead the Coalition to victory in 2026.
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The Coalition holds just 27 seats in the 88-seat lower house,meaning it will need to pick up at least 18 seats at the next election to win office.
Pesutto said the elevation of MPs elected since 2018 to the frontbench represented renewal. “That’s something I am very excited about,” he said.
As part of his new portfolio,Battin will be tasked with developing alternative policies to address youth mental health and keeping young offenders out of correctional facilities.
Battin said he wanted to “identify opportunities to prevent young people entering the rotating door of jail and work to determine how we can best deliver early intervention to prevent crimes from occurring”.
Pesutto,who beat Battin 17-16 in the Liberal leadership vote this month,will also take on the multicultural affairs portfolio.
Former Liberal leader Michael O’Brien will serve as shadow attorney-general and former shadow treasurer David Davis will serve as the opposition’s spokesman for arts and creative industries.
Upper house MP Georgie Crozier will stay in the shadow health portfolio,while deputy leader David Southwick will become the spokesman for transport infrastructure,trade,major projects and the Commonwealth Games.
Former teacher and deputy principal Matt Bach will become the opposition spokesman for education,and Richard Riordan,who unsuccessfully contested the party’s deputy leadership,will take on the shadow public transport portfolio.
Former shadow education minister David Hodgett will become the spokesman for energy,resources and planning,while James Newbury will keep his portfolios of equality,environment and climate change.
The National Party,which boosted its numbers at last month’s state election,will hold five of the 23 shadow cabinet positions with Peter Walsh,Emma Kealy,Tim Bull,Tim McCurdy and Danny O’Brien part of the opposition’s frontbench team.
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