Opposition Leader John Pesutto says his leadership is safe

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has given his first press conference in three weeks and revealed his colleagues haven’t spoken to him about a leadership challenge.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has affirmed his leadership is safe and he will not step down, despite waning support from his partyroom.

Mr Pesutto on Wednesday – during his first press conference in three weeks – refused to accept that his colleagues were discussing a potential leadership challenge behind his back.

“They haven’t been telling me,” he said.

The opposition leader arrived fresh from the Federal Court where his deputy David Southwick – during his time in the witness box – had been forced to defend taking a secret recording of a key party room meeting.

David Southwick was in the witness box at the federal court on Wednesday. Picture: David Crosling

Despite the revelations, Mr Pesutto said he still “absolutely” trusted Mr Southwick, adding that he would remain his deputy leader.

He denied that there was a culture of secretly recording meetings in the Coalition.

Mr Pesutto, however, dodged several questions about whether frontbenchers David Hodgett and Richard Riordan would remain in the leadership team after both MPs gave evidence against him.

“People are entitled to deliver evidence freely and there is no connection between what people do in court and how they perform in their jobs,” he said.

John Pesutto has refused to accept that his colleagues were discussing a potential leadership challenge. Picture: David Crosling

Asked to clarify whether they would remain on the frontbench, Mr Pesutto said: “I’ve got no reason to visit that question.”

“They’ve been performing well,” he said.

The opposition leader also denied claims that he had not been accessible to his colleagues during the court battle, after the Herald Sun had been told that some MPs reported difficulties contacting him over the past three weeks.

“I’ve been readily accessible and available,” he said.

Given his evidence in the defamation trial has now ended, Mr Pesutto said he would no longer attend court each day.