Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto has no plans to step down as head of the Liberal Party, despite losing a defamation battle against expelled Liberal MP Moira Deeming.
Pesutto told reporters this afternoon he consulted a “wide range of people”, including colleagues, to inform his decision not to step down.
That was despite a court judge ordering him to pay $300,000 for defaming the ousted MP on several instances.
Justice David O’Callaghan delivered his judgment in the Federal Court today following a three-and-a-half-week trial in September.
Justice O’Callaghan found Pesutto did defame Deeming in a media release, two radio interviews, a press conference and in a party expulsion motion.
Pesutto implied she was unfit to be in the parliamentary Liberal Party because of her associations with Nazis, the judge ruled.
“Two years ago this month I took on the responsibility of being Victoria’s Opposition Leader and alternative premier,” Pesutto said.
“We need better leadership in Victoria, that’s why I have this job, and that’s why I intend to continue in this role.”
Pesutto again denied rumours of unrest within the party, asserting that none of his colleagues asked him to step down following the Federal Court decision.
He labelled the defamation case loss as “very disappointing” but said he respected the judgment.
“I do accept that the court has delivered this decision, as disappointing as it is,” Pesutto said.
“I’ve always been a fighter and I’ve always been a fighter for the right reasons and for the right people, the Victorian people.
“That’s why I will continue in this role, now more than ever.
“We need leaders who have that fight in them, leaders who will stand up and be accountable and always put the interests of our state first.
”There’s nothing in this judgment that would deter me from the responsibility I have to provide Victorians with a better future.”
Earlier today, Deeming told reporters she “still believes” in the Liberal Party and has “every right” to return after the judge sided with her view that Pesutto defamed her character.
Deeming alleged Pesutto defamed her by suggesting or implying she was a Nazi or Nazi sympathiser following a Let Women Speak rally in Melbourne in March 2023, a claim he denied.
The trans-critical event, which Deeming addressed and helped organise, was attended by men in black who performed the Nazi salute on the steps of state parliament.
The now-independent MP told the court those men had nothing to do with her rally.
Outside court, Deeming thanked the courts, her lawyers and supporters before telling media she had “every right” to return to the Liberal party room.
“It makes sense to me that that would happen, I don’t know what they’re going to actually do,” Deeming said.
“My door is open, if anybody wants to speak to me.
“I have every right to be there, I did nothing wrong.
“All the accusations that were made about me, they were just disproven in court.”
Pesutto has previously stated he would not personally support a decision to reintegrate Deeming within the party, but today he told reporters it would be a matter for the party as a whole to decide on.
“Decisions like that are not matters for me alone,” Pesutto said.
“I don’t speak out on those matters ahead of my party room.
“I’ve made it clear on several occasions that it’s a matter for the party room.”
Deeming said she would not seek further apology from Pesutto, who was ordered by the court to pay her $300,000 in damages.
“The time for asking and demanding things from that man, that ship sailed ages ago,” she said.”
“The judge has given me something even better.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to doing what I came here to do when I came here, which was to fight for fairer laws and just to help Victorians.”
While she asserted Pesutto had not “proven himself trustworthy” in his role, she stopped short of suggesting he should resign.
“It’s not up to me to make that kind of call,” she said.
Deeming insisted she would be capable of working alongside the Liberal Party leader should he continue in the role.
“I still believe in this party, you know if you look at the Liberal Party platform, they are good values.
“It’s run by volunteers and … the volunteers deserve better than what has now happened under their Liberal Party logo.”
“I’m not unable to focus on who I’m really serving.”
Pesutto was not in court to hear the decision, while Deeming was supported by her husband and a group of women.
The group cheered after the judge left the bench, while Deeming’s husband gave her a hug.
