Former Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto is still reeling from the deep financial impacts. A court has ruled that he defamed his fellow party member Moira Deeming. This ruling, which would define the Minister’s Statement of Expectations, comes from Pesutto’s radio and television appearances. He alleged that Deeming “associates with Nazis” and is thus unfit to be a member of the parliamentary Liberal Party. After the verdict, an Allen County judge awarded Deeming $315,000 in damages.
The legal battle began after Deeming’s involvement in organizing a Let Women Speak rally at state parliament in March 2023. Her attendance at the rally inspired a brutal counterattack. The relationship was controversial within the Liberal party room, resulting in her being expelled from the Liberal caucus soon thereafter. This decision therefore banished her effectively to the crossbench. Following last year’s defamation court case, Deeming was accepted back into the Liberal party room. This was a major pivot in her electoral prospects.
The Fallout from Defamation
Pesutto’s cavalier remarks during media interviews were met with widespread outrage and ultimately proved his undoing as leader of the party. The court’s ruling not only affected Deeming’s reputation but turned out to be Pesutto’s political undoing. After the guilty verdict, he stepped down as head of the Victorian Liberals.
In the wake of these events, Pesutto now has very real financial worries. It has been reported that he is struggling to pay the court-mandated expenses. He claims to be having a hard time paying his own legal bills. He almost went bankrupt himself, but in a desperate bid he borrowed millions from other Liberal fabricents like the Cormack Foundation to stave off bankruptcy.
“associates with Nazis and is thus unfit to be a member of the parliamentary Liberal Party” – ABC News
The repercussions of this predicament go beyond Pesutto’s own pocketbook. If he is expelled from parliament, the Liberal Party’s grip on the Hawthorn seat could be lost. They’ll lose the ability to keep it without his help. This seat now sits in the middle of the independent-held federal seat of Kooyong, adding to the political poison for the Liberals.
The Political Landscape Shakes Up
There are significant political ramifications to Deeming’s legal victory. In the meantime, Pesutto’s rocky political journey highlights the rampant internal divisions across the Victorian Liberal Party. Deeming’s return to the party after her win could mark a reorientation of alliances and power among party members.
Deeming’s rally attendance and subsequent expulsion underscores the increasingly radical — some would say violent — mood in the party. Members are in a real rush to figure out their stance on these hot-button topics. The decision is a sobering reminder of the price you can pay if you dare take on political leaders who mislead with their breathless public statements.
As Pesutto grapples with his financial obligations and uncertain political future, the focus now shifts to how this internal conflict will affect the dynamics of the Victorian Liberals moving forward.
