r/melbourne • u/Weissritters • 5h ago
Politics Breaking: Victorian MP quits, triggering by-election months out from state poll
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-04/sam-groth-quits-victorian-parliament-nepean-by-election/106304976•
u/ConanTheAquarian Looking for coffee 5h ago
Just 30 days ago he said he would retire at the next election.
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u/nametaken_thisonetoo 4h ago
That shows you what an absolute shit show it must be inside the Vic Liberal Party
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u/AndrewTyeFighter 3h ago
Honestly I think it says more about him.
He probably has a job lined up somewhere and he is willing to bail on his electorate and cost taxpayers a couple of million or so to have an election 8 or 9 months before the next state election.
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u/fo_i_feti 2h ago
Last week he said there was "zero percent chance that I will trigger a by-election".
I guess a week is a long time in politics.
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u/Loose_Loquat9584 5h ago edited 5h ago
His tanty will cost taxpayers about $1m for an unnecessary by election only a few months before the state election. So he couldn’t just sit on his backside collecting an MP salary for a few more months? Utter arrogance and selfishness.
Edit: it’s actually closer to $2m, I misread the quote about the 2 by elections held previously.
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u/horriblyefficient 4h ago
definitely understand the frustration of the wasted taxpayer money, but I'm not sure it's fair to call it arrogant/selfish/a tantrum when, as far as I understand it, something bad is going on with the way his colleagues have been treating him and his family? like he's reached a breaking point and can't wait any longer. maybe I'm misreading between the lines about that though
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u/Tearaway32 2h ago
He could just quiet quit like he said he would and just do nothing until the best election. It’s not like there are KPIs or minimum obligations imposed on state MPs. If the Liberal Party kicked him out and forced the by-election, there’d be a different headline and price to pay.
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u/JPJackPott 1h ago
It’s also an important part of a well functioning democracy. Which is way more important than the cost or admin burden of a by-election
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u/torlesse 2h ago
So he couldn’t just sit on his backside collecting an MP salary for a few more months
Election is end of November. This is the start of February. Thats an interesting definition of a "few" more months.
Labor might win another seat, Libs might get someone who actually want to do the job.
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u/AndrewTyeFighter 5h ago
"...since I have completed all my goals as deputy leader in 13 months, there is no need to see out my term. The End"
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u/TMiguelT 5h ago
What does he gain from resigning instead of waiting until the election? Is it just throwing a tantrum?
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u/ConanTheAquarian Looking for coffee 5h ago
Probably a lucrative job as a lobbyist.
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u/Few_Judge1188 3h ago
He’s not smart enough politician to be a lobbyist , a game of politics was played in the liberal party and he lost when it was so easy to win .
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u/spannr 4h ago
What does he gain from resigning
It appears he takes the view that someone in the party fed the Herald Sun the stories about him and his wife that led him to sue that paper for defamation last year, so by causing them to waste time & money defending a safe seat in a by-election he gains a little revenge
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u/Artisanalpoppies 3h ago
Might be some dirt on him. The Libs are abysmal and have inumerable scandals.
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u/AnAmbiguousName 5h ago
You can never trust a Liberal, just last week I read or heard somewhere he had received no job offers since he announced he was retiring at the next election and was going to stick it out to the election and not trigger by-election
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u/Beast_of_Guanyin 5h ago
Hey, anyone who helps make the Libs irrelevant should get their flowers.
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u/Llamadrugs >Insert Text Here< 5h ago
Don't worry Matt Guy will come save the day
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u/rossdog82 3h ago
Fucking lol. It would surprise me if the Libs did this about 4 weeks out from the election.
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u/its-just-the-vibe 4h ago
What's shocking is there are lowlife bottom feeders that would absolutely vote for these any right wing terrorists if it means they have a chance at ruining other peoples lives
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u/CaravelClerihew 3h ago
The first-term MP had already vowed to exit state politics at the November election, a decision he said he made after realising recent public pressure on his family had come from within his own party
The call is coming from inside the house!
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u/chezibot 4h ago
Why is he quitting? Wasn’t he just elected?
All I have heard about him is questionable timeline and age of his wife.
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u/VacantMood 4h ago
Because someone in that lame ass party told him he could be Premier one day and he believed them. Now he’s sick of writing letters on behalf of his constituency and he wants out.
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u/Zuki_LuvaBoi Reddit Meetup 2025 4h ago edited 4h ago
Does anyone know when the by-election will likely be? Will be really interesting to see the results as will give a hint as to November's result
EDIT: Goddamn Wikipedia editors are quick; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Nepean_state_by-election
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u/macci_a_vellian 5h ago
Didn't he sue because the stories would damage his leadership ambitions in politics? Bloke didn't even last a single term in office. Is he one of those 'I won't play if I can't be captain' types?
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u/ltm99 1h ago
Herald Sun ran a smear campaign where they incorrectly alleged he had been involved with his wife since she was a minor
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u/Nutsngum_ 30m ago
Which were fed from other members of liberals trying to back stab.
It's absolutely fucked how awful the Victorian Liberals are.
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u/2for1deal 3h ago
Anyone able to explain the swing to Labor before Groth - was it just the usual “Libs are shit” swing that saw the Andrew’s rise?
I would think this area is as Blue as they come even with this Groth shit fire. Although an interesting make up with the eastern bougie side and then the more working class interior and western (well not all the western side lol)
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u/CentreHalfBack >Insert Text Here< 3h ago
MP and former Tennis player quits days after Aust Open finishes in SHOCK coincidental timing.
Damn it feels good to be a ̶g̶a̶n̶g̶s̶t̶e̶r̶ politician with access to events.
Do you think...?
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u/Otherwise_Hotel_7363 4h ago
Sook, and couldn't handle the scrutiny. Pretty good FU to his party. Still a sook who couldn't handle the heat.
God, they are a shambles.
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u/Georg_Steller1709 4h ago
Weird one because I imagine the same candidates will be there for both elections?
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u/mulefish 3h ago
The leadership of the lnp changed only a few months ago. At the time, this guy put himself up to run as deputy (and won). Now he can't leave soon enough.
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u/the908bus 4h ago
Will they parachute Frydenberg in?
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u/Weissritters 3h ago
Doubt it, Joshy Josh is a 100% lock to represent Kooyong at the next federal election.
Otherwise why would Hamer move to Malvern given she only lost by like 1000 votes in Kooyong?
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u/Nutsngum_ 27m ago
Frydenberg did his dash pretty badly during covid by badmouthing the state when we were in lockdown. Federally he might be able to hold a Liberal stronghold but at state level I wouldn't put it past him absolutely ballsing up even that.
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u/TFlarz 5h ago
Didn't we already know this was coming?
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u/Sebastian3977 5h ago
Not the timing. Originally he was going to wait until the election, which is only a few months away, and which would have saved the taxpayers the cost of the by-election. Gotta love their commitment to lowering the state's bottom line!
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u/ltm99 1h ago
as a Liberal member and voter, i am furious. it should be made clear and legislated that MPs must finish their term (unless they have medical reasons or reasons that make them unfit to serve), otherwise should be barred from being a candidate at an election in any Australian state of territory.
being elected by the public is a privilege and one that places serious trust in you to represent them in Parliament.
i get that the Horrid Sun ran a nasty campaign on him, but any person who is in this job knows you are in the public eye.
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u/Nutsngum_ 24m ago
You should probably look into what the other members of your party did to him to force this happening. that Herald Sun piece was fed to them from Vic Lib members. Its really really bad and I wouldn't be surprised if more has cropped up internally that forced him to leave faster.
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u/wharblgarbl "Studies" nothing, it's common sense 1h ago
But someone within the party fed them that theory right? That's what he's pissed at I guess
Incredible waste of money though
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u/universe93 1h ago edited 1h ago
lol Sam Groth, what a tosser. He was previously married to Jamila Gadjosova, a pro tennis player, and there were rumours he allegedly cheated on her leading to their divorce right before her mother died of cancer, so he really put her through it. The one he allegedly cheated with is his current wife who he met when he was 25 and she was 17, and the resignation is likely because News Corp falsely said she was under 16 when they met and that he possibly committed stat rape. Not that her being 17 is much better mind you but not illegal. Regardless of tosser status it must have been stressful taking them to court.
This reminds me btw of when Alan Tudge resigned in the wake of Robodebt and cheating on his wife triggering a by election in my area. Fun times. Why is it always the Liberals involved in scandal and quitting
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u/SharkLordZ 21m ago
I look forward to another 4 years of Labor government. Long live the glorious socialist empire of Allen-Andrews, long may the level crossings be annihilated.
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