Liberal leader John Pesutto partly ‘reneges’ on Moira Deeming suspension deal

Suspended MP Moira Deeming agreed to strict conditions when penalised over her attendance at a controversial rally – but the opposition leader has already ‘reneged’ on one.

Opposition leader John Pesutto has been accused of reneging on a key part of the compromise deal struck with suspended Liberal MP Moira Deeming.

It comes as growing tensions inside the Liberal Party continue to threaten the stability of Mr Pesutto’s leadership.

Mrs Deeming was facing expulsion from the party following her involvement with a Let Women Speak rally that was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis.

She was saved by an 11th hour compromise that saw her accept a nine-month suspension on Monday.

As part of the deal, multiple sources told the Herald Sun Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto were due to issue a joint statement following the decisions.

Instead Mr Pesutto held a press-conference with his leadership team, and Mrs Deeming issued a statement under her own name.

Liberal MP Moira Deeming has been slapped with a 9-month suspension from the party. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Several sources have confirmed Mrs Deeming was surprised she was left out of the press conference, and that she was left to issue her statement alone.

Mr Pesutto’s office denied there was ever an agreement to issue a joint statement.

During a round of media interviews on Tuesday morning he told the ABC Mrs Deeming was “not off to a good start” in proving herself to the party.

He said Mrs Deeming has nine months to earn her spot back on the team, otherwise she could face a fresh expulsion motion.

“I can tell you Moira won’t be able to re-enter the party room if she’s going to be speaking and acting inconsistently with what the party room agreed,” he said.

Mr Pesutto said he was concerned by social media posts by Mrs Deeming that rejected his claims that she had condemned organisers of the rally.

Opposition leader John Pesutto has been accused of reneging on a key part fof the compromise with MP Moira Deeming. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Feuding broke out within the party in the wake of the compromise deal.

One upper house MP appeared to hit out at supporters of Mrs Deeming.

“Moira is a beautiful, brave, clever woman MP who is shamelessly being exploited by selfish people,” the MP said.

“Some don’t care what they do to her dignity, privacy, family, honour or anyone else’s.

“However, the onslaught on our leader is completely inappropriate and misguided too.

“Be wise people. Don’t raise your pitchforks and create a noose, lest you be guilty of being the next puppets of wrongdoing.”

But Acting Premier Jacinta Allan appeared to disagree, instead calling on John Pesutto to move a new motion to expel Ms Deeming from the Liberal Party.

Ms Allan said on Tuesday the result from the party room on Monday had shown that the new opposition leader has “absolutely failed” his first test of leadership.

MP Moira Deeming is pictured with Kellie-Jay Keen at the anti-trans rally which prompted the move to expel her. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“He’s failed to stand up against hate and bigotry,” she said on Tuesday.

“Quite simply, today, John Pesutto needs to stand up and move again to expel Moira Deeming from the Liberal Party party room.

“We have seen the Liberal leader over the past couple of days be absolutely humiliated. Humiliated by his own lies, humiliated by his own party room that remains deeply, deeply divided on these issues. Imagine being divided on whether you stand up against hate or bigotry? That is just unacceptable.

“This is a test of leadership that John Pesutto is comprehensively failing before our very eyes, and if he wants to pass the test, he can move today to expel Moira Deeming from the Liberal Party party room.”