Two leadership contests are taking place right now in centre-right political parties, on opposite sides of the world. One will be decided by thousands of party members in November, the other by a handful of MPs as early as mid-October, according to some reports.

In the UK, the Tories are working methodically through an organised and agreed process to select a new leader following their crushing defeat in the July general election. I have just been to the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, and the importance each leadership contender places on directing their message at the membership – as importantly as wooing colleagues – cannot be underestimated.

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto and former Liberal premiers Ted Baillieu, Denis Napthine, and Jeff Kennett. Credit: Artwork: Marija Ercegovac

In Victoria, the Liberals, following the unnecessary spectacle in the Federal Court, could vote for a new leader within the fortnight.

Having moved the spill motion that saw Matthew Guy and David Southwick elected leader and deputy, I know something of these matters. In hindsight, it wasn’t the smartest move, as they both performed poorly. Remarkably, Southwick is still there, but he shouldn’t be. Aside from the revelation that he secretly recorded his colleagues, he has not done the work on state policy issues to justify remaining in the role.

Unlike the Tories, no party volunteer will have........

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