Two senior advisors of the Victorian Liberal Party have quit amidst growing party turmoil.
Chief of staff Rodrigo Pintos Lopez and director of communications Nick Johnston are set to finish up after a year in their respective jobs.
In a statement, Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the pair were only engaged for a period of 12 months to help set up his office.
“Both of them put aside successful careers in the private sector and have carried out their roles in a highly professional and respected manner that has enabled us to build the profile of the new team and take up the attack to Labor to put us in the best position to win the 2026 election,” Mr Pesutto said.
“A year on, both Rodrigo and Nick have indicated they now want to return to the private sector.”
The major changes to his team come as Mr Pesutto prepares for a defamation case brought on by Moira Deeming, who alleges she had been defamed by the Liberal leader after she was ousted from the party following her appearance at an anti-trans rights rally.
On Saturday, the Liberal party faced another test in the by-election for the federal seat of Dunkley, located in Victoria’s bayside south-east.
While there was a swing toward the Liberals, Labor retained the seat.
The Liberal Party lost four seats in Victoria at the last federal election and now holds just six of the state’s 39 seats.
It has cast a shadow over Mr Pesutto’s leadership.
The Liberal leader announced Louse Staley would be appointed as chief of staff after working “closely with Rodrigo in the office over the past 12 months”.
After being elected to the central Victorian seat of Ripon in 2014, and then re-elected in 2018, Ms Staley lost the seat in the last election.
She also joined the race for Liberal state director last year following the resignation of Sam McQuestin.
Alex Woff has been appointed the Liberals’ director of communications.