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Leader of the Opposition (Victoria)

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FieldValue
postLeader of the Opposition
imageJess Wilson 0026 (cropped).png
imagesize200px
incumbentJess Wilson
incumbentsince18 November 2025
termlengthWhile leader of the largest political party not in government
inauguralGeorge Prendergast
formation1904
deputySam Groth

The leader of the opposition in Victoria is the leader of the largest political party in parliament that is not in government. They are always a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Prior to 1904, opposition to the government of the day was less organised. Thus, the Victorian Parliamentary Record does not designate leaders of the opposition before then. The leader acts as the public face of the opposition, leading the opposition on the floor of parliament. They act as a chief critic of the government and ultimately attempt to portray the party in opposition as a feasible alternate government.

The office is currently held by Jess Wilson after her election to the position of leader of the Liberal Party on 18 November 2025.

List of leaders of the opposition in Victoria

No.NamePortraitPartyConstituencyTerm of officeTenureElectionsPremierLabor VIC}}1Progressive}}Commonwealth Liberal}}23Labor VIC}}(2)Nationalist}}Labor VIC}}(1)4(1)United Country}}56(5)(6)Labor VIC}}78UAP}}(7)United Country}}910Labor VIC}}1112(11)Liberal VIC}}(12)(9)Country VIC}}13Labor VIC}}(11)14Labor VIC}}15(11)Liberal and Country}}16Labor VIC}}17Labor VIC}}18Liberal VIC}}Labor VIC}}19Liberal VIC}}2021Labor VIC}}Liberal VIC}}22Liberal VIC}}23Labor VIC}}(22)24Liberal VIC}}252627(22)Labor VIC}}2829Liberal VIC}}30Labor VIC}}3132Labor VIC}}33(32)Liberal VIC}}34Labor VIC}}3536
George Prendergast[[File:George Prendergast.jpg75px]]LaborNorth Melbourne7 June 190417 September 19131904Bent
1904–1909
1907
1908
1911Murray
1909–1912
–Watt
1912–1913
George Elmslie[[File:25Georgeelmslie.jpg75px]]LaborAlbert Park17 September 19139 December 1913–
William Watt[[File:William Watt (cropped).jpg75px]]Commonwealth LiberalEssendon9 December 191322 December 1913–Elmslie
1913
George Elmslie[[File:25Georgeelmslie.jpg75px]]LaborAlbert Park22 December 191311 May 1918–Watt
1913–1914
1914Peacock
1914–1917
1917Bowser
1917–1918
–Lawson
1918–1924
George Prendergast[[File:George Prendergast.jpg75px]]LaborNorth Melbourne18 June 191818 July 19241920
1921
1924Peacock
1924
Alexander Peacock[[File:20Alexanderpeacock.jpg75px]]NationalistAllandale18 July 192418 November 1924–Prendergast
1924
George Prendergast[[File:George Prendergast.jpg75px]]LaborNorth Melbourne18 November 192414 April 1926–Allan
1924–1927
Edmond Hogan[[File:30Nedhogan.jpg75px]]LaborWarrenheip14 April 192620 May 19271927
William McPherson[[File:Will McPherson.jpg75px]]NationalistHawthorn20 May 192722 November 1928–Hogan
1927–1928
Edmond Hogan[[File:30Nedhogan.jpg75px]]LaborWarrenheip and Grenville22 November 192812 December 19291929McPherson
1928–1929
William McPherson[[File:Will McPherson.jpg75px]]NationalistHawthorn12 December 19293 September 1930–Hogan
1929–1932
Stanley Argyle[[File:Agyle, Stanley (cropped).png75px]]NationalistToorak3 September 193019 May 1932–
United Australia1932
Tom Tunnecliffe[[File:Tom_Tunnecliffe.jpg75px]]LaborCollingwood13 July 19322 April 19351935Argyle
1932–1935
Stanley Argyle[[File:Agyle, Stanley (cropped).png75px]]United AustraliaToorak2 April 193523 November 19401937Dunstan
1935–1943
1940
Thomas Hollway[[File:TomHollway.jpg75px]]United AustraliaBallarat23 November 194014 September 19431943
Albert Dunstan[[File:Albert Dunstan (cropped).jpg75px]]United CountryKorong and Eaglehawk14 September 194318 September 1943–Cain
1943
John Cain[[File:JohnCain1954.jpg75px]]LaborNorthcote18 September 194321 November 1945–Dunstan
1943–1945
1945Macfarlan
1945
John McDonald[[File:Johnmcdonaldmp.jpg75px]]United CountryShepparton21 November 194520 November 19471947Cain
1945–1947
John Cain[[File:JohnCain1954.jpg75px]]LaborNorthcote20 November 19477 December 1948–Hollway
1947–1950
John McDonald[[File:Johnmcdonaldmp.jpg75px]]CountryShepparton7 December 194827 June 19501950
Thomas Hollway[[File:TomHollway.jpg75px]]Liberal and CountryBallarat27 June 19505 December 1951–McDonald
1950–1952
Les Norman[[File:Les_Norman.jpg75px]]Liberal and CountryGlen Iris5 December 195123 July 1952–
John Cain[[File:JohnCain1954.jpg75px]]LaborNorthcote23 July 195217 December 1952–
–Hollway
1952
1952McDonald
1952
Trevor Oldham[[File:Trevor Oldham.png75px]]Liberal and CountryMalvern17 December 19522 May 1953–Cain
1952–1955
Henry Bolte[[File:Henry Bolte.jpg75px]]Liberal and CountryHampden3 June 19537 June 19551955
John Cain[[File:JohnCain1954.jpg75px]]LaborNorthcote8 June 19554 August 1957–Bolte
1955–1972
Ernie Shepherd[[File:Ernie Shepherd.jpg75px]]LaborAscot Vale
Footscray20 August 1957url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91596439title=New Leader For Victorian Labour.newspaper=The Canberra Timesdate=21 August 1957access-date=16 November 2014page=11via=National Library of Australia}}1958
Clive Stoneham[[File:Clive Stoneham.jpg75px]]LaborMidlands7 October 195815 May 19671961
1964
1967
Clyde Holding[[File:Clyde Holding 1974 (cropped).jpg75px]]LaborRichmond15 May 196729 June 19771970
1973Hamer
1972–1981
1976
Frank Wilkes[[File:Frank Wilkes 1974 (cropped).jpg75px]]LaborNorthcote29 June 19779 September 19811979
–Thompson
1981–1982
John Cain[[File:John Cain 2018.jpg75px]]LaborBundoora9 September 19818 April 19821982
Lindsay Thompson[[File:Lindsay Thompson 1975 (1) (cropped).jpg75px]]LiberalMalvern8 April 19825 November 1982–Cain
1982–1990
Jeff Kennett[[File:Jeff Kennett b.jpg75px]]LiberalBurwood5 November 198223 May 19891985
1988
Alan Brown[[File:Liberal Party of Australia placeholder portrait.svg75px]]LiberalGippsland West23 May 198923 April 1991–
–Kirner
1990–1992
Jeff Kennett[[File:Jeff Kennett b.jpg75px]]LiberalBurwood23 April 19916 October 19921992
Joan Kirner[[File:Joan kirner.jpg75px]]LaborWilliamstown6 October 199222 March 1993–Kennett
1992–1999
Jim Kennan[[File:Labor Placeholder.png75px]]LaborBroadmeadows22 March 199329 June 1993–
John Brumby[[File:John Brumby.jpg75px]]LaborBroadmeadows14 July 199322 March 19991996
Steve Bracks[[File:Steve Bracks at a Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony, August 2006 b.jpg75px]]LaborWilliamstown22 March 199920 October 19991999
Jeff Kennett[[File:Jeff Kennett b.jpg75px]]LiberalBurwood20 October 199926 October 1999–Bracks
1999–2007
Denis Napthine[[File:Denis Napthine.jpg75px]]LiberalPortland26 October 199920 August 2002–
Robert Doyle[[File:Robert Doyle 2013 b.jpg75px]]LiberalMalvern20 August 20028 May 20062002
Ted Baillieu[[File:Ted baillieu b.jpg75px]]LiberalHawthorn8 May 20062 December 20102006
2010Brumby
2007–2010
Daniel Andrews[[File:Daniel Andrews 2018.jpg75px]]LaborMulgrave3 December 20104 December 2014–Baillieu
2010–2013
2014Napthine
2013–2014
Matthew Guy[[File:Matthew Guy at ABC Suburban Rail Loop forum (2) (cropped).jpg75px]]LiberalBulleen4 December 20146 December 20182018Andrews
2014–2023
Michael O'Brien[[File:O'Brien 2022 b.jpg75px]]LiberalMalvern6 December 20187 September 2021–
Matthew Guy[[File:Matthew Guy at ABC Suburban Rail Loop forum (2) (cropped).jpg75px]]LiberalBulleen7 September 20218 December 20222022
John Pesutto[[File:Victorian Liberal Leader John Pesutto b.jpg75px]]LiberalHawthorn8 December 202227 December 2024–
–Allan
2023–
Brad Battin[[File:Brad Battin-2025 b.jpg75px]]LiberalBerwick27 December 202418 November 2025–
Jess Wilson[[File:Jess Wilson 0026 (cropped).png75px]]LiberalKew18 November 2025Incumbent–

References

References

  1. (18 September 1913). "VICTORIAN POLITICS.". [[The Advertiser (Adelaide).
  2. (19 June 1918). "VICTORIA'S NEW LABOUR LEADER.". [[The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times]].
  3. (15 April 1926). "VICTORIAN LABOR PARTY.". [[The Advertiser (Adelaide).
  4. (21 August 1957). "New Leader For Victorian Labour.". [[The Canberra Times]].
  5. (16 May 1967). "A.L.P. elects young leader". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
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