John Pesutto’s leadership of the Victorian Liberals appears to be on borrowed time with even his supporters deserting him ahead of a likely spill on Friday.
Despite backflipping on allowing court adversary Moira Deeming back into the Liberal fold, the state opposition leader is facing mounting calls to step down
A party room vote could be held as soon as this Friday, where he is likely to be axed and replaced by opposition police spokesman Brad Battin.
An unnamed Liberal MP, who claimed to previously support Mr Pesutto, told The Australian the embattled leader should step down to avoid a leadership spill.
‘It’s done. It’s over for John,’ the MP said, claiming the Liberal party room wanted him out before Christmas.
‘The discussion now is about what the future looks like.’
Australian Associated Press also reported an anonymous Liberal MP predicting Mr Pesutto’s imminent demise on Sunday night.
‘We’ll see a new leader – I have no doubt about that,’ the Liberal MP said.
There are mounting calls from unnamed MPs for John Pesutto to quit the Victorian Liberal leadership before he’s voted out
However, Mr Pesutto remained defiant on Sunday afternoon.
‘We have been resonating positively with Victorians and have a great chance of improving our vote and possibly winning Prahran and Werribee at these by-elections,’ he told The Australian.
‘Our work has seen us continue our rise as an alternative government, even with internal challenges. Let’s maintain our focus and direction.’
The in-party turmoil in Victoria has prompted federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton to hold off on announcing his shadow ministry reshuffle until early in the new year amid fears a potential leadership spill would overshadow the unveiling of his ‘election ready’ team.
Mr Battin – a former police officer – was considered the frontrunner to take leadership with finance spokeswoman Jess Wilson a possible candidate for the deputy position along with former Australian tennis player Sam Groth.
Mr Pesutto, who comprehensively lost a defamation case brought against him by Ms Deeming, cast his deciding vote to block her to return to the party room on Friday.
However, by the weekend, he declared that a ‘definite absolute majority’ of party MPs wanted her back and even issued a grovelling apology.
Moira Deeming (pictured after her court win on Thursday) won a defamation case she brought against Mr Pesutto after he kicked her out of the parliamentary party
‘I again apologise to Mrs Deeming as we all work together to ensure the Liberal Party succeeds in winning government in November 2026,’ Mr Pesutto said.
He called the second special meeting for January 15.
However, Mr Battin, Mr Groth along with fellow Liberal MPs Richard Riordan, James Newbury and Bridget Vallence have since signed a petition for the meeting to be held this Friday.
Four are members of Mr Pesutto’s shadow cabinet.
Mr Groth quit his shadow cabinet post following Mr Pesutto’s refusal to stand down after the Federal Court last week ruled that he defamed Mrs Deeming and ordered him to pay $315,632 in damages plus costs.
On Friday, Liberal MPs were split 14-14 on whether to welcome Mrs Deeming back into the party after she was expelled over a controversial rally she attended in March 2023 that was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis.
Mr Pesutto used his casting vote to break the 14-14 tie, although he argued it was technically not required because the motion required more than half of the party’s 30 members to pass.
Mrs Deeming, who remains a Liberal party member but sits as an independent MP in the state’s upper house, used an interview on Saturday to call for the leader’s head.
‘To treat me as some vengeful witch that needs to be burned at the stake is just incredibly offensive,’ she told Seven News.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott earlier attacked the Victorian Liberals who voted against her re-admission into the party on Friday.
‘How can someone elected as a Liberal be expelled on the basis of a lie and not be readmitted once the truth is there for all to see?’ the former Liberal prime minister posted on X.
‘Especially right before Christmas, the season of goodwill, this is a truly contemptible failure to act with honour and decency.’
The internal upheaval stems from Mr Pesutto being found to have made defamatory comments implying Mrs Deeming was associated with Nazis following the Melbourne rally.
She was initially handed a nine-month suspension before being booted from the parliamentary party after threatening to sue Mr Pesutto.
