Unity is Liberal leader Brad Battin's motto as he takes the reins of the Victorian party after a bruising leadership battle.
The Berwick MP, in Melbourne's outer east, is the fourth opposition leader to face off against to Victoria's Labor government after ousting John Pesutto in a party room vote on Friday.
Mr Pesutto opted not to run and Mr Battin was elected above Mornington MP Chris Crewther, while opposition financial spokeswoman Jess Wilson's tilt at the top job failed in the first round of voting.
Ms Wilson threw her hat into the ring after a plan to install her as Mr Battin's deputy fell over.
A former police officer and small business owner, Mr Battin said his time outside of politics put him in good stead to understand the pressures Victorians faced.
He nominated crime, cost of living, budget restraint and roads as priorities under his leadership, a move that continues his predecessor's work.
"It is now our time to come out as a united team, to show you that we are the team to go into government in 701 days' time," he told reporters on Friday.
Asked to differentiate himself from Mr Pesutto policy-wise, Mr Battin vowed to discuss any decisions with his party room.
"I can't ... avoid speaking to my colleagues first and then turn around and expect a united team," he said.
Mr Battin spoke to his federal counterpart Peter Dutton shortly after his ascension to leader to work through what the federal leader wanted to do in Victoria.
"I'll ensure the biggest priority I have when it comes to working with Peter Dutton ... is what is in the best interest of Victorians," he said.
Leadership ructions gathered momentum after John Pesutto refused to step aside after his court loss. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Leadership ructions simmered after a Federal Court judge found Mr Pesutto had defamed ousted MP Moira Deeming by implying she was associated with Nazis who gatecrashed a controversial Melbourne rally she attended.
Former tennis player Sam Groth appeared to spark the leadership spill earlier in December when he resigned to the back bench after Mr Pesutto refused to step down as leader following the court loss.
Mr Groth was elected unopposed as deputy leader, while David Davis was elevated to leader of the upper house, with Evan Mulholland retaining his deputy upper house leader role.
MPs voted on Friday to readmit Moira Deeming to the Liberal party room. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Mrs Deeming, who was banished from the party over the defamation case, was readmitted after MPs voted for her return on Friday.
"I'm very grateful to everyone who lobbied to get this done, both inside and outside the Liberal Party," she said.
Mr Battin, who previously lost leadership ballots against Mr Pesutto and former leader Michael O'Brien, will have two years to make his mark before a state election at which the Labor government will seek a rare fourth term.