Tensions in the Liberal party room remain high after two weeks of courtroom drama in Moira Deeming’s defamation trial against leader John Pesutto.
The Victorian Liberal Party is trying to head off rumblings of a leadership challenge as fallout continues from theTensions in the party room remain high after two weeks in court, where about a quarter of the party room faced cross-examination, while other MPs were dragged into the civil suit with private text messages and emails produced as evidence.Joe Armao
“The question everyone must ask is, who is best to maximise our electoral prospects in 2026? The answer is John Pesutto,” Crozier said. But the defamation trial – which is about to enter its third week – angered Liberal MPs across both the moderate and conservative factions, with many now insisting that Pesutto should have worked harder to settle the dispute and avoid the trial, which has been airing the party’s dirty laundry.The Agehas spoken with nine MPs from the state Liberal Party in recent days, on the condition of anonymity to discuss the party’s internal woes, as well as senior party figures.
Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto at a press conference in July with Sam Groth, who is considered a contender for the leadership positionSandringham MP Brad Rowswell and Brighton MP James Newbury had also been identified as leadership contenders, but MPs believe Newbury would struggle to unite the broader Coalition after Deeming revealed his stance on duck hunting risked blowing up the Coalition deal in January 2023.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
John Pesutto, Moira Deeming: Liberals desperately need to end the Pesutto-Deeming dramaA climb down by both sides in this libel case would better for the Victorian Liberals than a damning Federal Court judgment.
Read more »
Deeming-Pesutto defamation trial hears another secret recording of meeting with senior LiberalsThe defamation trial between Opposition Leader John Pesutto and ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming has heard a secret recording taken by Ms Deeming where she denied being transphobic or homophobic in a meeting with senior Liberals.
Read more »
Deeming v Pesutto: Here’s what we now know about key state LiberalsThere were covert recordings, private emails, text messages and colour-coded spreadsheets, but we learned plenty more in court about the key figures in the defamation case ousted Liberal Moira Deeming brought against Opposition Leader John Pesutto.
Read more »
Three weeks of Deeming-Pesutto defamation drama wraps up with frankness and eggsWitnesses finished giving evidence on Friday, but the hearings didn’t end without drama.
Read more »
‘Weasel words’: Pesutto slams Vic Premier’s protest responseVictorian opposition leader John Pesutto has slammed Premier Jacinta Allan’s response to violent protests that caused chaos on the streets of Melbourne this week.
Read more »
Deeming Accuses Pesutto of Defamation Over 'Nazi Brush' AllegationsFormer Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming is suing opposition leader John Pesutto for defamation, claiming he falsely portrayed her as a Nazi sympathizer after she spoke at a rally that was infiltrated by neo-Nazis. The trial is expected to expose internal divisions within the Liberal party.
Read more »