Victorian Liberal Party Structure | Branches, State Council & Admin Committee

The Victorian Liberal Party has two wings: an organisational wing run by State Council and Admin Committee, and a parliamentary wing led by MPs. About 300 local branches elect delegates who shape policy and preselections.

Two wings: organisational vs parliamentary

The Victorian Liberal Party operates through a dual structure that separates organisational functions from parliamentary activities. This system ensures democratic accountability while maintaining operational efficiency across the state's political landscape.

The organisational wing elects office-bearers, raises funds and runs preselections; the parliamentary wing (MPs) chooses the leader and sets tactics. Both wings are governed by the Victorian Division constitution last amended August 2022.

Organisational wing responsibilities

• Membership management: Processing applications, maintaining member databases and handling disputes
• Fundraising: Coordinating donor events, managing political donations and compliance
• Preselections: Running candidate selection processes for all levels of government
• Policy development: Facilitating policy forums and feeding motions to State Council
• Campaign coordination: Supporting local campaigns and volunteer recruitment

Parliamentary wing functions

• Leadership selection: Electing the parliamentary leader and deputy through party room ballots
• Tactical decisions: Setting parliamentary strategy and voting positions
• Media coordination: Managing public communications and policy announcements
• Caucus discipline: Ensuring party unity on key votes and positions

State Council, Admin Committee & Policy Fora

The party's governance structure centers on three key bodies that handle different aspects of organisational management. State Council serves as the party's 'annual general meeting', while the Administrative Committee provides ongoing governance between annual meetings.

State Council powers and composition

State Council is the supreme governing body of the Victorian Division, comprising approximately 800 delegates elected from across the state. This body meets annually, usually in May, and serves multiple critical functions:

• Constitutional amendments: Requires two-thirds majority to change party rules
• Policy platform: Adopts official party positions through delegate voting
• Leadership oversight: Can censure or commend Administrative Committee actions
• Budget approval: Reviews annual financial statements and major expenditure

Administrative Committee structure

The 23-member Administrative Committee meets monthly and controls the party's day-to-day operations. Committee composition includes:

Policy Fora system

Six standing Policy Fora provide structured input into party policy development:

Branches and affiliated bodies

The foundation of the Liberal Party's democratic structure rests on approximately 300 local branches across Victoria. These branches provide the grassroots connection between the party organisation and its members in their local communities.

Branch structure and representation

Branches are typically organised by suburb or electorate boundaries, with each branch required to maintain a minimum of five financial members to remain active. Key branch functions include:

• Local campaigning: Door-knocking, letterboxing and booth duty during elections
• Fundraising: Organising dinners, raffles and donor events
• Candidate recruitment: Identifying and encouraging potential candidates
• Policy input: Discussing motions and providing feedback to Policy Fora
• Community engagement: Hosting local forums and maintaining visibility

Each branch sends two delegates to the relevant Federal Electorate Conference, which coordinates activities across multiple branches within a federal electorate boundary.

Affiliated organisations

Two major affiliated groups provide specialised representation within the party structure:

Branch viability and renewal

The party constitution includes provisions for maintaining branch viability. Branches can be declared 'defunct' if they fall below five financial members for two consecutive years (Constitution §9.9). This system ensures active local representation while allowing for natural organisational evolution.

The Victorian Liberal Party's structure reflects a balance between grassroots democracy and operational efficiency. Through its layered system of branches, conferences, and committees, the party maintains both local connection and statewide coordination, ensuring that member voices can influence policy while maintaining the discipline necessary for effective political action.

For those interested in the party's leadership processes, learn more about how Victorian Liberal leaders are elected, or explore membership options and costs.