Victorian Liberal Party calls special meeting as new internal war looms

An internal war is brewing in the Victorian Liberal Party as MPs decide whether to use party funds to help pay for John Pesutto’s defamation legal fees.

Fast-footed Liberal MPs wouldn’t be drawn on their views on who should pay for Opposition Leader John Pesutto’s legal fees on Thursday as they made their way into parliament.

A special meeting of MPs was called for 1pm on Wednesday to discuss a range of internal party matters, including the prospect of using party funds to indemnify the leadership group, which is being sued for defamation by UK women’s rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen.

After Mr Pesutto agreed to meet with MPs, the meeting was shifted to Friday.

But late on Wednesday it was again rescheduled to be held on Thursday at 6.15pm, in a move some MPs said was to get ahead of meeting of the party’s administrative committee.

Ms Keen has issued John Pesutto, deputy David Southwick, upper house leader Georgie Crozier and her deputy Matt Bach with defamation concerns notices over commentary around her attendance at a Let Women Speak rally on the steps of parliament in March.

She claims the commentary made her the target of “extreme hate, abuse, harassment, and stalking,” and culminated in her being “physically attacked”.

Ms Keen has issued John Pesutto and other Liberal MPs with defamation concerns notices. Picture: David Crosling

Former opposition leader Matthew Guy picked up the pace as he spotted the media in the car park, downplaying Thursday night’s meeting.

“You’re making Mt Everest out of Mt Buller,” Mr Guy said.

Kim Wells, who noted the decision would be made by the administration wing of the party, reflected on his own legal battles.

“That’s an internal party matter and it’ll be made by the admin committee, so it’s not a decision for members of parliament,” he said.

“I just think part of the reason will be that we give an update on what’s happening externally in regards to legal cases.”

“I’ve just been in a four and a half year defamation case myself … and it’s not fun, I can tell you.”

One key Liberal source said MPs wanted to express “outrage at the idea of millions of dollars worth of campaign funds that the Liberal Party doesn’t have spare … to indemnify these four leaders.”

They said the party’s membership would be “furious” to see funds used in such a way.

Mr Pesutto has been holding out hope the Liberal Party might still fund his legal fees to defend an action brought by exiled member Moira Deeming.

Moira Deeming is still preparing for a legal fight against John Pesutto. Picture: Luis Ascui

He has been told he must personally fund the legal defence.

Speaking on Thursday Ms Deeming said she was still preparing for the legal fight.

She wouldn’t reveal when she would file the defamation suit.

“When we’re ready,” she said.

Ms Deeming said she has always been prepared to settle the matter.

“I’ve always been willing.”

Notice of the extraordinary meeting was sent to MPs about 10.30am on Wednesday.

“Dear Liberal colleagues, Following a request from a number of colleagues, and discussions and confirmation of this time with JP (Mr Pesutto), I’m emailing you to let you know that there will be an informal meeting of Liberal parliamentarians at 1pm today in the Party Room, where there’ll be an opportunity to informally discuss a number of internal party matters with JP,” it said.