James Campbell: Which of his colleagues will ever trust David Southwick again?

The Moira Deeming-John Pesutto defamation case is living up to its billing as a show for the ages and already there are political ramifications.

John Pesutto’s legal team revealed the existence of a recording of a key meeting. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

For the past year the small world of Victorian politics has been sitting on the edge of its seat at the prospect of major Lib-on-Lib violence when Moira Deeming versus John Pesutto finally made it to court.

Sometimes court cases which promise much in the way of entertainment can disappoint when the curtain finally goes up.

But Deeming’s counsel Sue Chrysanthou, SC, had only been on her feet for less than ten minutes when it was clear to all this case is going to live up to its billing a show for the ages.

Until last week she said, the evidence Justice David O’Callaghan would need to rely on to determine what went down last March at the critical meeting between Deeming and the Liberal leadership, the day after the Let Women Speak rally, was contained in six affidavits – five from the Opposition Leader and one from her client.

Moira Deeming and her legal counsel Sue Chrysanthou, SC, arrive at court. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

But now this was would not be the case, she explained, because last Monday Pesutto’s legal team had suddenly revealed that a recording of the meeting existed.

Not only that, she said, until that very day Pesutto’s lawyers had been themselves unaware of its existence.

The meeting held on 19 March last year had been recorded surreptitiously by Pesutto’s deputy David Southwick, Chrysanthou explained.

And for some reason, which we must hope will become clear as the trial proceeds, she said Southwick had waited until last December to tell his leader he had recorded it.

The court heard David Southwick surreptitiously recorded the meeting. Picture: Getty

Not only that but for some reason, which again we can hope will be explained in coming days, Pesutto had decided to keep its existence secret from his legal team until it was disclosed to his lawyers last Monday night.

What this might end up meaning for the outcome of this case we will have to wait and see.

On the face of it the political ramifications for both men’s reputations, will I suspect, be serious and permanent – especially for Southwick.

You can already hear the attacks from Jacinta Allan and her ministers.

Premier Jacinta Allan and her ministers are set to seize on evidence in the case for political attacks. Picture: David Geraghty

Seriously, what kind of a sneak, secretly tapes meetings with his colleagues?

Which of his colleagues will ever trust him again? How can anyone meeting with him trust that they aren’t being recorded?

They’re also, I suspect, going to want what how Southwick explains waiting nine months to tell his leader he had done so.

Pesutto too is going to have to come up with some answers.

Because sitting on such a recording for another nine months before finally disclosing its existence, doesn’t look to flash for a future premier.

And that’s assuming too – that the recording ends up according with the evidence in the leadership group’s affidavits.

And to think it’s only Day 1!

We’ve still got another 14 days of this to go!

Originally published as James Campbell: Which of his colleagues will ever trust David Southwick again?