Interview on Channel 9, Today Show

Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Topics: Victorian Labor leadership, Jess Wilson’s plan for Victoria, fuel security, One Nation

E&OE……………………..

Mike Willesee: Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is just hours from the fight of her political life as Deputy Premier Ben Carroll and a cross-factional group of Labor MPs move to challenge her position. Joining us to discuss today's headlines: Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson, and Nine reporter and 3AW presenter Heidi Murphy. Good morning to you both. Firstly, Heidi, to you. Writing looks to be on the wall. Should she fight or should she fall on her sword?

Heidi Murphy: I think depending on how sizable the vote is on the leadership spill motion today, she may decide to fall on her sword. It is unsustainable, this ultimate game of chicken that's going on at the moment where both the Deputy and the Premier intend to be candidates. Party rules mean weeks of mess if that goes ahead. If the vote goes against her today in big enough numbers, I think she has no option but, for the good of the party, to go. However, she's pretty determined to fight this. We'll know by lunchtime.

Mike Willesee: It's going to be interesting. Look, if you had to put it down to a single issue, maybe it's difficult to do so, is it the Big Build or is it the polls that have made her position untenable?

Heidi Murphy: I think polling's been pretty poor for a while, and the polling doesn't actually show the Liberals in a massively winning position. I have friends and family interstate who go, "Surely Labor will lose?" No, it's actually still a pretty tight contest overall on the polls. The Premier's satisfaction ratings and personal approval ratings are off a cliff, but they have been for a long time. I think this does actually, Mike, come down to the Big Build, the corruption issues on it, and how it has been handled. It's been two years of solid reporting on it, lot of allegations made, lot of concern about them, and the Premier has not handled it as she should have, as Victorians would expect her to.

Mike Willesee: Fair bit of baggage left behind if she does go, though. On that one, Tim, can we go to you now? Do you think Opposition Leader Jess Wilson is doing enough to capitalize on this chaos, or is she just leaving Labor to do the heavy lifting?

Tim Wilson: What Jess is doing is making sure that there's an alternative to go on and govern the state. Victoria has been governed by a criminal cartel now for many years. We know that Jacinta Allan learned at the feet of Dan Andrews, and Ben Carroll learned at the feet of Jacinta Allan, and so this is just going to be a continuation of the same chapter and legacy of government. What we need is hope for the future, and that's what Jess Wilson is focused on providing.

Mike Willesee: Tim, we heard yesterday from Andrew Bragg talk of a coalition with One Nation. Do you think One Nation may play a role in the next election in Victoria?

Tim Wilson: The objective is to make sure that we win majority Liberal government so that we go on and govern the state with hope and confidence in the same way that we hope nationwide, because Australians--

Heidi Murphy: But you must know that's not, Tim, realistically, that's not, it's not possible, is it? Really, on the numbers?

Tim Wilson: Well, it's cute, Heidi, but the reality is people haven't voted yet. I'm not so arrogant as to prejudge how people vote. What I know is what we're working towards, which is majority Liberal government in Victoria, New South Wales, and across the Commonwealth, because Australians need hope. We need to end the criminal cartel that exists in Victoria, and that model is now being replicated nationwide under the Albanese government, and it must end.

Mike Willesee: Tim, hope is one thing, but political reality, electoral reality, is another. We heard about it yesterday, are you going to rule it out?

Tim Wilson: This is ridiculous. Pauline Hanson has ruled this out. We've ruled this out because we're focused on how we get majority Liberal government to define the future of Victoria, define the future of Australia, because hope does matter. Because at the moment, you heard it in the previous report about consumption figures, what's happening with Victorians and Australians, record small business collapse in confidence, record collapse in consumer confidence. People need change, and we have to deliver it.

Heidi Murphy: I agree hope is important, but I think there is reality that you need to consider as well, and I think you need to be upfront with voters about what the possibilities may be. I don't think the Coalition's primary vote is enough to win majority government at the moment.

Mike Willesee: I'm not sure we're going to get an answer out of this one right now, Heidi.

Tim Wilson: Heidi, Heidi, an election is not being held today, and prejudging the will of the Victorian people or the Australian people is an incredibly arrogant thing to do. What we're going to do is put our best case forward about how we're in a position to govern Victoria and Australia to improve people's lives, because that's what actually people want. They don't want political parties focused on themselves. They don't want politicians shouting at dogs. What they want is politicians focused on how they're going to improve people's lives.

Mike Willesee: Heidi, can I go to you now? What-- how do you feel when you see the Prime Minister about to announce at least a scoping study for a new oil refinery?

Heidi Murphy: Well, I think it's an important move to make. Long time coming. I think it's generally what people would like to see happen, vast majority of I think Australians. I think it's about time.

Mike Willesee: Tim, will the Coalition support such a move?

Tim Wilson: Well, let's wait and see what the details are, but when we were last in government, we stopped the last two refineries from closing. It's been a long time, and we've already had multiple reports of oil crises just this year. It would be nice to see the government take some action. We've already announced a doubling of our fuel reserve to 60 days because we see this crisis as real, and unfortunately, we can't say that this is going to be the end of it.

Mike Willesee: Okay. Tim Wilson and Heidi Murphy, thanks for your time this morning.