Lawyers for Moira Deeming serve second notice on John Pesutto, accusing him of humiliating and demonising her

Expelled Liberal Moira Deeming has threatened a second defamation action against embattled Victorian Opposition leader John Pesutto.

Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto was heckled at a party gathering in Bendigo over the expulsion of Moira Deeming. She has threatened a second defamation action. Picture: Sky News

Expelled Liberal Moira Deeming has threatened a second defamation action against embattled Opposition Leader John Pesutto.

Lawyers for Mrs Deeming served a second concerns notice on Mr Pesutto on Wednesday.

It accuses the leader of humiliating and demonising Mrs Deeming in his campaign to expel her from the party.

Mr Pesutto moved to expel Mrs Deeming in March after she attended a Let Women Speak rally on the steps of Parliament House which was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis.

“On and from 19 March 2023, Mr Pesutto … publicly accused Mrs Deeming, a fellow member of parliament from the same party, of being a Nazi sympathiser and Nazi associate, among other things, in the media, and on that basis threatened and bullied her with expulsion from the parliamentary Liberal Party,” the concerns notice said.

Expelled Liberal Moira Deeming at home with her family in Taylors Hill. Picture: Ian Currie

“Mr Pesutto’s accusations were false and seriously defamatory of Mrs Deeming personally and professionally and have caused serious harm to her reputation. She is entitled to substantial damages as a result.

“Mrs Deeming has suffered terribly as a result of Mr Pesutto’s unlawful defamation of her reputation from 19 March 2023 onwards,

“She has been extremely humiliated, abused, vilified, and demonised in the public eye.

“The smearing of Mrs Deeming as a Nazi sympathiser, with firstly the threat of expulsion based on this public smear, and then her actual expulsion from the Parliamentary Party she was elected to represent, evidences the most serious harm to her reputation personally and professionally, which is and will be ongoing unless and until she is vindicated.”

On Thursday, Mrs Deeming refused to explain her latest defamation action, saying “Sorry, I can’t make a comment”.

Mrs Deeming has threatened to launch defamation proceedings unless provided with a public apology.

She wants him to withdraw allegations of her Nazi links without reservation and “sincerely apologise” for “harm, hurt, and distress” caused to Mrs Deeming and her family.

If her conditions aren’t met it is anticipated two defamation proceedings could be lodged as early as next week.

Mr Pesutto’s office refused to comment on the latest legal development.

But sources close to the leader said he was confident the matters would not get to court.

But sources close to Mrs Deeming said it was unlikely the matters would settle.

Mrs Deeming was serving a 9-month suspension from the parliamentary wing of the party when she issued an initial concerns notice against Mr Pesutto.

Following the move five of her colleagues moved a motion to expel her.

The motion succeeded 19 votes to 11.

Originally published as Lawyers for Moira Deeming serve second notice on John Pesutto, accusing him of humiliating and demonising her