Pesutto ignores calls from senior Libs to stand down, plans to lead party into 2026 election

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has dismissed calls from senior Liberal Party members to stand down, saying his position is “safe” and “very good”.

Pesutto has responded to calls for his resignation. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has responded to calls for his resignation, saying he plans to lead the Liberal Party into the 2026 state election.

Arriving at the Federal Court on Tuesday, Mr Pesutto dismissed reports that he would face pressure to stand down from the top job in the fallout of his defamation battle with Moira Deeming.

He said not a single colleague had yet raised any concerns with him about the leadership, and said he was completely confident in holding onto the top job.

Senior Liberals, who have until now been firmly supportive of Mr Pesutto, say his position is now untenable and want him to resign to avoid a messy leadership coup.

Asked about his position Mr Pesutto said: “it’s safe, very good… I speak to my colleagues regularly, I’ve got no concerns in that area.”

The court case is not expected to be finished until the end of October. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Mr Pesutto said despite the court case now not expected to finish until the end of October, with a judgment to follow, his focus was on defeating Labor.

“We need to remove this rotten, old, tired, corrupt, Labor government,” he said.

Mr Pesutto also confirmed he would be absent from a planned shadow cabinet meeting to be held at the Melbourne Royal Show on Tuesday.

It comes after Mr Pesutto spent four days testifying in the Federal Court, sparking internal criticism that he was not able to focus on his main job. With the case running behind schedule, the matter will now hang over the heads of Liberals for at least another three weeks before the parties can make their closing submissions.

The Herald Sun spoke to multiple MPs on Monday who said they would pressure Mr Pesutto to stand down and avoid a messy leadership coup.

“People want him to do the right thing by the party,” one MP said.

Federal Liberals have been left frustrated by the Deeming matter, which has dragged on since March last year.

There are fears that matter will interfere with the looming federal election, but that it could also negatively affect the 2026 state election.

Originally published as Pesutto ignores calls from senior Libs to stand down, plans to lead party into 2026 election