Explosive court docs reveal accusations against Opposition Leader John Pesutto

A British activist has accused Opposition Leader John Pesutto of purposely trashing her reputation and of a “reckless indifference to the truth” in explosive documents filed with the Federal Court.

British activist Kellie-Jay Keen has accused Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto of purposely trashing her reputation in his campaign to expel Moira Deeming from the Liberal Party.

Explosive documents filed with the Federal Court late on Monday accuse the embattled leader of a “reckless indifference to the truth” in media releases, radio and TV interviews and the compiling of a dossier of evidence used to back his move to expel Mrs Deeming.

Mrs Keen, the founder and organiser of the Let Women Speak movement, is seeking aggravated damages and injunction banning Mr Pesutto from repeating allegedly defamatory claims about her.

She has accused him of wrongfully endorsing the views of, and associating with, far right-wing extremist groups including neo-Nazi activists.

She also claims his statements about her wrongfully alleged she was a neo-Nazi or right wing extremist.

British activist Kellie Jay Keen says John Pesutto has purposely trashed her reputation in his campaign to expel Moira Deeming from the Liberal Party. Picture: Jacquelin Magnay

“The actual impact of the campaign ... to those who listened to, watched, or read about Pesutto’s statements about Keen caused hateful conduct by members of the public, including her mobbing at the Hobart and Auckland “Let Women Speak” rallies, detestable social media reactions, threats, insults, online hatred,

harassment, abuse, contempt and ridicule through emails, letters and voicemails to Keen and on social media,” a statement of claim alleges.

“Pesutto’s false allegations against Keen have been widely discussed on many online platforms, including social media, particularly given the political interest and notoriety of the incursion by neo-Nazis at the Rally and Pesutto’s subsequent publicity campaign to expel a person who was involved in the Rally, Mrs Moira Deeming from the Parliamentary Liberal Party, meaning that the grapevine effect increased the harm to Keen’s reputation.

“Prior to the publication of the matters complained of, Keen had a respected reputation within the international (including in Australia and New Zealand) community that advocates for sex-based rights, and the community more generally, and was proud of the contribution that she had made, as an individual, a mother, as the leader of the “Let Women Speak” movement internationally (including in Australia and New Zealand), and founder and CEO of the Standing Up for Women organisation.”

Moira Deeming and John Pesutto. Picture: Facebook

The court documents claim Mrs Keen has been “gravely injured in her reputation personally and professionally, and in her career, and has suffered and will continue to suffer substantial hurt, distress and embarrassment and fear for her safety and financial security.”

She is seeking aggravated damages over Mr Pesutto’s alleged failure to make any attempt to fairly inquire into publicly available facts underpinning his claims about her and downplaying the seriousness of the impacts on her.

She has also accused him of engaging in a calculated and purposeful media campaign, including briefing journalists, for the purpose of damaging Keen’s

reputation “by creating an impression in the minds of readers, viewers and listeners of the matters complained of that Keen is a callous, irresponsible, despicable, racist and white supremacist that supports Neo-Nazi ideology and right wing extremism.”

Sources familiar with the legal action said they expected the matter, and a third defamation action by Melbourne woman Angie Jones, to be joined to an initial action by Mrs Deeming.

That case is currently set to go to trial in September, but there is an expectation all three matters could be delayed by several months given the complexity of the cases.

It could see the matters pushed into next year, prompting heightened concern among some Liberals about the impact the legal drama, which began in March 2023, is having on Mr Pesutto’s ability to lead the party.

Mr Pesutto has repeatedly insisted the court action is not distracting from his work in any way, saying it is a matter for his lawyers.

Former premiers Jeff Kennet, Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine are among a consortium of 12 entities known to be funding the legal fight after the Liberal Party refused to offer any financial assistance.