Victorian Liberal Leader Matthew Guy’s new right-hand man revealed

Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy has turned to a close childhood friend and the best man at his wedding, Nick McGowan, to be his new chief of staff following the party’s stunning donation scandal.

The state opposition was rocked last week when it was revealed that Mr Guy’s now former chief of staff Mitch Catlin asked for more than $100,000 in payments to his private business from a party donor.

The proposed contract was with Mr Catlin’s marketing company Catchy Media Marketing and Management and would have paid him at least $8333 a month.

The payments were for services as a contractor described as “supporting business interests” and had the potential to increase to more than $195,000 in total by the end of this year if the Liberals lost the state election.

Mr Guy announced last week that he accepted Mr Catlin’s resignation before revealing on Monday that his friend Mr McGowan would be his new chief of staff.

Mr McGowan has been involved with the Liberals for more than 30 years and held various senior roles in the private and public sector, including as Mr Guy’s chief of staff when he was planning minister.

He has also run for the Liberals various times in the past, including as the party’s candidate for Eltham in the 2018 state election.

“I am proud to call Nick a colleague and friend and look forward to working together to deliver real solutions for all Victorians,” Mr Guy said.

“Nick’s core beliefs are Liberal ones. He believes in equality, individual responsibility and reward for effort.

“Like so many Victorians, Nick understands the importance of the upcoming election and brings a total focus on delivering real solutions for all Victorians.”

Mr McGowan’s first task when he begins will be to develop a code of conduct for state opposition staff, a move Mr Guy foreshadowed when he announced Mr Catlin’s resignation last week.

He will also be running for the Liberals in the upper house in November’s state election, meaning he will need to go on leave from his new job once he lodges his nomination.

“As Nick is a preselected Liberal candidate for the North Eastern Metropolitan Region, consistent with clause 4.5 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct he won't campaign for his personal election during his ordinary work hours, and consistent with clause 4.4 he will take leave when he lodges his nomination with the Victorian Electoral Commission,” Mr Guy said.

When speaking earlier on Monday, Mr Guy would not be drawn on questions about Mr Catlin and refused to give any further insights into the shocking scandal.

“I’m not answering that. That’s last week,” he said when asked if Mr Catlin was still in the state.

“I’m not talking about that at all, thank you,” Mr Guy replied when asked if he had talked to his former chief of staff.

The Victorian Labor government said last week it would refer the issue to Victoria Police, Victorian Electoral Commission, Victorian Ombudsman and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, and Australian Federal Police.

“Matthew Guy has fundamentally compromised himself – now and for any future role – by his alleged involvement in this secret scheme to circumvent donation laws,” Government Services Minister Danny Pearson said.

“Victorians are entitled to answers about this secret deal and the Liberal Party should be demanding their leader provide them.”

The Victorian Electoral Commission announced last week it had begun “preliminary inquiries” into the issue.

Mr Guy said he had not been contacted by any integrity agency yet.