THE leadership crisis surrounding Premier Ted Baillieu has deepened, with senior colleagues warning of a ''culture of secrecy and paranoia'' in his office and inherent ''structural problems''.

In claims reminiscent of those levelled at Kevin Rudd before he was dumped as prime minister by his own party, one senior source described ''a sense of secrecy and paranoia'' about Mr Baillieu's office.

''It doesn't even operate on a need to know basis: those who need to know are often the last to know. The mess isn't just a blip, it is a serious structural problem that needs to be fixed.''

The comments follow a searing critique this week levelled by former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett. Mr Kennett, previously a close ally who convinced him to run for his seat, said the performance of Mr Baillieu and his senior team of advisers selling the government's message had been ''far from good enough''.