Matthew Guy, who had held these roles since September 2021 and previously in 2018 resigned after the Coalition's defeat to the Australian Labor Party at the November election.

Moderate John Pesutto defeated conservative Brad Battin 17 votes to 16, while David Southwick retained the position of Deputy Leader.

Following the Coalition's defeat at the 2014 Victorian state election under then Premier Denis Napthine, Matthew Guy, who was minister for planning and minister for multicultural affairs and citizenship, was elected as the leader of the Liberal Party and subsequently opposition leader with Peter Walsh as his deputy from the National Party.

Guy led the coalition to a landslide defeat at the 2018 Victorian state election and resigned as leader following the results.

[9] On 30 November 2022, both Kennedy and teal independent challenger Melissa Lowe conceded defeat in the seat of Hawthorn; Pesutto officially announcing his candidacy on 1 December.