Opposition Leader John Pesutto won’t stand down after defamation loss

John Pesutto has declared he will stay on as Opposition Leader but his colleagues say his defamation loss makes his position untenable.

A defiant John Pesutto has vowed to continue leading the Victorian Liberal Party, despite mounting calls for him to stand down.

In his first press conference since the Federal Court declared that he defamed exiled Liberal MP Moira Deeming, the Opposition Leader said the verdict, while “disappointing”, didn’t warrant his resignation.

“We need better leadership in Victoria. That’s why I have this job. That’s why I intend to continue in this role,” he said.

“I’ve always been a fighter.”

John Pesutto has resisted calls to resign. Picture: David Crosling

But furious colleagues have privately said his position was untenable and he should step down to give the party a fresh lead up to the 2026 election.

Mr Pesutto claims that not one colleague had raised concerns with him or asked him to quit.

“No one has put that to me,” he said.

Asked whether he is bracing for a leadership challenge from one of his colleagues in the coming weeks, Mr Pesutto said: “I’m continuing on in this role … What members wish to do is entirely their prerogative but I’m not aware of any such steps being taken.”

Mr Pesutto said the court findings were ‘disappointing’. Picture: David Crosling

Former Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott took to social media where he wrote that Mrs Deeming “should now swiftly be readmitted to the party room”.

“Moira Deeming has been vindicated by the federal court. No Liberal should ever be in trouble for standing up for the rights of women and girls,” he said.

Moira Deeming has been vindicated by the Federal Court. No Liberal should ever be in trouble for standing up for the rights of women and girls. She should now swiftly be readmitted to the party room.

— Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) December 12, 2024

Mr Pesutto said he didn’t want Mrs Deeming to return to the party room as a Liberal MP, but said that ultimately wasn’t his call.

“Decisions like that, are not matters for me alone … I’ve been on record previously saying I wouldn’t support that. But that’s not to say that matters cannot be put before the party room,” he said.

Mr Pesutto said the judgement on Thursday put an end to the saga.

Mr Pesutto addressed the media on Thursday. Picture: David Crosling

He added that the lengthy public court case hadn’t hurt the Liberal Party’s electoral chances.

“And I should say that throughout this trial, and in particular the hearing itself, as an opposition and as the alternative government, we have been achieving great strides in resonating with the Victorian people,” he said.

“They’re embracing us more as that alternative.”

Mr Pesutto – who has been ordered to pay $300,000 in damages to Mrs Deeming and could be on the hook for mammoth legal bills – said he respected the court’s decision, “as disappointing as it is”.

He said his legal team are reviewing the case and would then determine whether an appeal is warranted.

Asked if he could personally afford the bills, which could run into the millions, he said: “I don’t want any Victorians to be worried about how I’ll pay my bills. My chief concern is how Victorians will pay their bills in a cost-of-living crisis, under a Labor government that doesn’t care about easing the tax burden and getting our debt down, because that involves savage cuts to services and higher taxes, fees and charges.”

Originally published as Opposition Leader John Pesutto won’t stand down after defamation loss