Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto is bracing for a leadership challenge this Friday, following a call for a special meeting by a group of shadow ministers. The meeting aims to debate the readmission of exiled MP Moira Deeming into the Liberal Party, just a week after a similar motion ended in a 14-all deadlock.
Under mounting pressure, Pesutto had initially scheduled a party room meeting for January 15 to reconsider Deeming’s status, marking a significant shift in his stance. However, the motion has been expedited to this Friday, where Shadow Police Minister Brad Battin is expected to contest Pesutto’s leadership.
The call for the meeting was supported by shadow ministers James Newbury, Bridget Vallence, Richard Riordan, and Brad Battin, alongside Nepean MP Sam Groth, who resigned from the shadow cabinet in protest over Deeming’s treatment.
Pesutto publicly apologized to Deeming, stating that a majority of colleagues now favor resolving the issue by readmitting her. He emphasized the need to focus on upcoming by-elections and holding the current government accountable.
This leadership spill is the latest chapter in a protracted controversy involving Deeming, who recently won a defamation case against Pesutto. She had been suspended and later expelled from the parliamentary party after being accused of being a Nazi sympathizer following a rally that was disrupted by neo-Nazis.
Federal Court Judge David O’Callaghan found Pesutto defamed Deeming, noting his comments in media interviews caused significant harm to her reputation. The unfolding events highlight ongoing tensions within the Victorian Liberal Party as it navigates internal conflicts and prepares for future elections.
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