Leadership challenge looms for Opposition Leader John Pesutto

The Opposition Leader says he’s confident he still has the backing of the majority of the partyroom as his colleagues prepare to overthrow him.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has welcomed a leadership challenge, telling his agitators to “bring it”.

Mr Pesutto on Monday again reaffirmed that he would not resign as his colleagues prepare to overthrow him.

Despite a leadership challenge heading his way when parliament resumes next week, Mr Pesutto said he was confident he still had the backing of the majority of the partyroom.

When asked if he expected a challenge next week, Mr Pesutto, however, said “we’ll see”.

“If someone wants to bring a motion at any point, whether it’s next Tuesday or whenever, let them bring it,” he said.

“And let’s just deal with it calmly and mature.

“But nobody’s told me they’re doing that.

However, he refused to get on the front foot and put a motion forward himself.

“I won’t do that,” he said.

“If somebody wants to bring on any kind of motion, they’re free to do so under the parliamentary party’s constitution.”

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto is also locked in a defamation trial. Picture: Diego Fedele

Premier Jacinta Allan on Monday slammed the “embattled” opposition leader as she labelled the Liberals “an untrustworthy small bunch of individuals”.

“Whilst the leader of the opposition, the embattled leader of the opposition, has spent his time in court ... demonstrating just what an untrustworthy small bunch of individuals the Liberal Party truly is,” she said.

“They don’t trust each other. Victorians know they can’t trust them, and we’ve seen that play out for weeks and weeks now.”

The Herald Sun on Sunday confirmed that a motion to suspend standing orders – and make way with the required notice period for a challenge – would be moved at a partyroom meeting when parliament resumes on October 15.

A group of MPs believes it now has the numbers to force a spill of the party’s entire leadership group.

“If it doesn’t get up this time, it will get up in four weeks,” one key Liberal MP said.

Plans to bring on a challenge escalated on Sunday, just hours after Mr Pesutto told this masthead that he was determined to remain leader.

But furious colleagues blasted their leader for failing to engage with them and instead run a commentary through the media.

A leadership challenge would be the fourth since March 2021 when Brad Battin failed in a coup against then leader Michael O’Brien.

Matthew Guy then successfully challenged for the job in September 2021 and remained leader until the 2022 election.

A leadership challenge would be the fourth since March 2021 when Brad Battin failed in a coup against then leader Michael O’Brien. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Pesutto beat Mr Battin by a single vote to secure the leadership following the election.

But despite expectations he could unite the divided party room, MPs say Mr Pesutto has failed to do so.

Just three months after clinching the leadership, Mr Pesutto moved to expel Moira Deeming from the party room in a decision that has continued to haunt him.

The move widened the division between the party’s warring factions, and prompted legal action which remains ongoing.

First term MP Sam Groth, shadow police minister Mr Battin and manager of opposition business, James Newbury, are all considered key leadership contenders.

“John knows they’re coming for him,” one party insider said.

“He’ll dig in. If he survives next week, the following week the court case continues and he’ll get towelled up.

“This was all so avoidable, but it’s just a massive own goal.”

Victorian shadow minister for crime prevention Brad Battin. Picture: Aaron Francis

Under Mr Pesutto’s watch, the Coalition has improved in the polls, and now enjoys a 10 point lead over Labor.

Latest polling predicts a 50-50 two-party-preferred result after the distribution of preferences.

However critics believe the party has flatlined, and while voters are moving away from Labor, they are not yet willing to vote with the Coalition.

“It’s not about the polls any more, it’s moved beyond that,” one insider said.

“The party is effectively back to where they were 18 months ago.

“And the choice they need to make now is hugely important.”

The party’s polling is the best since Mr O’Brien recorded a 41 per cent primary vote in June 2021, just months before he faced a successful challenge.

But at that time the Coalition were still trailing Labor on a 2PP basis, 48 to 52.

Originally published as Leadership challenge looms for Opposition Leader John Pesutto