Sam Groth calls game, set, match on Pesutto leadership

Former tennis ace Sam Groth has quit the state opposition’s frontbench, citing John Pesutto’s refusal to stand down as state Liberal Party leader in the wake of the damning Federal Court judgment against him.

Pesutto was blindsided by the decision, which Groth informed him of minutes before posting a resignation statement on social media late on Friday afternoon. Some of Groth’s closest parliamentary colleagues were also unaware of his intention to quit before it was publicly announced.

Liberal leader John Pesutto and Sam Groth, who has stood down as a frontbencher.Credit: Eamon Gallagher

The full implications of Groth’s decision are not yet clear, but the first-term MP has made no secret of his aspirations for future leadership. Groth joined the Liberal Party on the eve of the 2022 state election after a successful career as a professional tennis player and represents the electorate of Nepean, on the Mornington Peninsula. He was, until Friday, the opposition spokesman for tourism, sport and events, as well as the opposition spokesman for youth.

One Liberal MP, speaking confidentially to discuss internal party matters, flagged the possibility of more resignations in coming days. “It’s a well-known strategy,” the MP said.

Other senior party figures were more bemused than alarmed by the development. One MP quipped that Groth might have foot faulted.

In his statement, Groth said he couldn’t “in good conscience” remain in the role following Justice David O’Callaghan’s searing findings against Pesutto for defaming former Liberal MP Moira Deeming.

O’Callaghan found Pesutto’s evidence contained untruths, that he was “infuriatingly unresponsive” during cross-examination, and that he had given “dubious” explanations and calculated answers in an attempt to defend Deeming’s claim against him.

The court found Pesutto’s move to expel Deeming from the party room after she spoke at a Let Women Speak rally that was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis in March 2023 was fuelled by a “preoccupation” with the political advantage the then premier, Daniel Andrews, would extract from the episode.

O’Callaghan rejected each of Pesutto’s defences of public interest, honest opinion, qualified opinion and contextual truth.

Groth said Pesutto should have resigned in the wake of the court finding.

“At all times in my life, both professionally and personally, I have believed in acting with integrity,” he said.

“It is with regret that, following yesterday’s Federal Court judgment against John Pesutto and his subsequent decision to remain as Liberal leader, I have decided to resign from his front bench. In good conscience, I can no longer continue to serve in this role.”

The decision could provide the MP with freedom to canvass support from his parliamentary colleagues. He said he would not be making further comment.

Groth’s shock decision came as Kim Wells, a former treasurer and one of the most experienced parliamentarians within the Victorian Liberal Party, urged Pesutto to invite Deeming back into the party room as an “essential first step” to repairing the damage caused by her exile 18 months ago.

“The issue surrounding Moira Deeming attending a Let Women Speak rally was an internal Liberal Party matter that should have been resolved behind closed doors,” Wells told this masthead. “It should never have ended up in court, and this has been an embarrassment to the Liberal Party.

“Moira and her family have received justice, but Moira’s life will never be the same because of the accusations that she associated with Nazis. The Deeming case has wrecked relationships and friendships and, in many cases, these will never be mended.

“The Liberal Party needs to rebuild, and an essential first step would be to readmit Moria Deeming back into the party room because a court has proven that she did nothing wrong.”

Wells spent months trying to facilitate a settlement between Pesutto and Deeming to prevent sensitive party communications from being aired in open court.

On Friday, another Liberal MP, Bev McArthur, said the situation around Pesutto’s leadership was “virtually untenable” following the saga.

Following her comments, Pesutto said he had always been determined to keep leading the party as he awaited the judgment.

“The matter is concluded with yesterday’s decision, and we’ve got to move forward,” he said.

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