The director of the Victorian Liberals, Stuart Smith, has resigned after leaked messages were published in which he ridiculed the party’s women’s council and upper house MP Bev McArthur.
Smith resigned on Thursday morning and apologised for the WhatsApp messages, contained in the Liberal party headquarters staff group chat, which were published by the Australian on Wednesday night.
In the messages, Smith said the Liberal Women’s Council – the peak body representing women in the Victorian branch – were only able to reach resolutions at a meeting “after two men told them they had to”.
He also posted a photo of a martini with the caption: “F U LWCV”, an abbreviation for the women’s council.
In a later exchange, Smith shared a video of McArthur, 76, waving an Australian flag with the comment “here’s Bev with dementia”.
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Smith said he had apologised for the comments and would resign to avoid distraction for the party.
“In the best interests of the party I have tendered my resignation to minimise distractions from the important task of winning the next election. I regret the comments and have apologised for them,” he said in a statement.
“I thank the party for the opportunity and wish the team well.”
The Victorian Liberal leader, Brad Battin, said Smith’s resignation was the “right thing to do”.
“His comments were unacceptable and do not reflect the standards of professionalism, integrity and inclusion that we all expect of each other,” Battin said.
“I lead a team that aspires to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and inclusion.”
The opposition police spokesperson, David Southwick, said the comments were “inappropriate” and denied the parliamentary party had any involvement in Smith’s resignation.
“We, as members of parliament, leave it to our Liberal party headquarters. We don’t get involved in how the party operates,” he told reporters.
Evan Mulholland, the party’s deputy leader in the upper house, described the comments as “completely unacceptable”.
“It’s a good thing that he’s resigned and the party has moved on,” he said.
Danny Pearson, a minister in the Victorian Labor government, said the publication of the messages proved the Liberal party was “deeply divided”.
“If you cannot govern yourselves, how on earth are you going to be able to govern the state? If this is how they treat each other, how are they going to treat ordinary Victorians?” he said.
Smith’s departure comes days before the party’s next state council meeting this weekend, where the position of president will be up for re-election. The current president, Philip Davis, and his immediate predecessor, Greg Mirabella, are the only two candidates.
Immediately after the meeting, preselections will open for candidates ahead of the November 2026 state election.
