Victorian Opposition leader Michael O'Brien survives leadership challenge

Victorian Opposition leader Michael O'Brien has survived a leadership challenge, defeating a motion for a spill by 22 votes to nine this morning.

Nearly a third of the 31 Liberal MPs supported the leadership spill in a party room at Parliament House, but their lack of confidence in Mr O'Brien was not enough to force him out.

Mr O'Brien said he received an "overwhelming endorsement" from his colleagues.

READ MORE: Daniel Andrews 'narrowly avoided permanent damage' to spinal cord

"The party is very strongly resolved to the current leadership group in place and that means we get to get our focus on Victorians," he said.

"On getting Victoria out of this current mess that we're in, on rebuilding this state, on saving Victoria from a Labor government that is quickly sending us broke and woke, instead of being strong, open and free, which is where we need to be.

"I'm pleased with the strong endorsement of the Leadership Team. We're looking forward to getting back to work, not for ourselves, getting back to work for Victorians. They deserve our entire focus."

LIVE UPDATES: Senator calls for pause in AstraZeneca rollout

The Opposition Leader said he was the last person to say he was "perfect", but the state needed a "better alternative" to Premier Daniel Andrews.

"Victorians need us to offer a better alternative," Mr O'Brien said.

"We're putting alternatives out there. We've got a government that has got the worst set of finances in the country.

"We've got high unemployment and small businesses being smashed. We in the Liberal Party will be the advocates for the Victorians left behind by Labor."

Mr O'Brien has been leader of the opposition in Victoria since its huge 2018 election loss to the Andrews Labor government.