A beleaguered state Liberal party is turning to a millennial in a desperate bid to unite and change its political fortunes.
With just over 12 months until Victorians head to the polls, Opposition Leader Brad Battin was ousted for first-term MP Jess Wilson.
The 35-year-old mother of one was elected unopposed after Mr Battin did not stand following a successful spill motion on Tuesday.
Ms Wilson became the first woman to lead the party's Victorian division and its third leader in 11 months after John Pesutto was deposed in late December.
The leadership coup was set in motion on Monday afternoon, when a group of Liberal MPs visited Mr Battin to tell him his time was up.
Support for the Victorian opposition slipped in several polls, although one survey had the coalition with its nose narrowly in front of Labor.
Victorian Liberal MPs quietly complained about Mr Battin's lack of focus on issues other than rising crime.
His strategy rebounded last week when Labor unveiled a series of policies to crack down on crime, flat footing the opposition.
Retiring party stalwart Kim Wells said there had been "a lot of unfortunate mistakes" in the past few months.
Ms Wilson said colleagues urged her to stand, but refused to explain what Mr Battin had done to warrant his unceremonious axing.
"The Liberal party room today said it was time for a new direction," she told reporters.
Former tennis ace turned MP Sam Groth fended off David Southwick to remain deputy leader.
Conservative faction powerbroker Bev McArthur replaced David Davis as the party's upper house leader, while Evan Mulholland kept his upper house deputy position.
Ms Wilson guaranteed she would lead the Victorian Liberals to the November 2026 election and vowed to campaign on the cost of living, budget debt, crime, health and home ownership.
Despite rampant infighting this term and having no a permanent state director, the Kew MP suggested there was enough time for the party to get its house in order.
"I know the party is match fit to fight Labor," Ms Wilson said.
"I know that we are focused on the task ahead."
Her elevation sets up a head-to-head election battle with Premier Jacinta Allan.
Ms Wilson is viewed as a more electorally potent challenger to Labor as a business-savvy member of the party's moderate wing.
The former staffer to ex-federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Business Council of Australia executive was the sole Victorian Liberal MP to publicly declare she would vote 'yes' in the voice to parliament referendum.
However, she effectively ruled out reversing an opposition policy to repeal Victoria's treaty with First Nations people.
Former opposition leader Michael O'Brien said Ms Wilson was the premier's "worst nightmare", while Mr Frydenberg endorsed her as having "what it takes to lead the state".
Within an hour of taking the reins, Victorian Labor released an attack ad against Ms Wilson talking about the prospect of the Liberals cutting services if returned to power for the first time since 2014.
"No matter who is the leader of the Liberal Party, they're still a Liberal," Ms Allan said.
The premier and opposition leader later shook hands across the table of parliament's lower house, before squaring off in a fiery question time.
The Victorian coalition will need to gain at least 17 extra seats in the 88-seat parliament to form majority government after spending all but four years out of office since the turn of the century.
The upheaval among Victorian Liberals comes after their federal counterparts abandoned the party's net-zero emissions policy, stoking speculation of a challenge against leader Sussan Ley.
