Register of Interests tabled in the Victorian Parliament reveal who chipped into John Pesutto’s defamation defence
A well-known developer, two shadow ministers and three former premiers are among those to dip into their own pockets to support former opposition leader John Pesutto.
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Senior Victorian liberals and a well-known property developer have been revealed as the latest backers to support former opposition leader John Pesutto’s defamation defence.
According to the Register of Interests tabled in the Victorian Parliament on Thursday, shadow ministers Georgie Crozier and David Southwick were among those who dipped into their pockets to back Mr Pesutto when he was being sued by Liberal MP Moira Deeming, who was turfed from the party but later let back in.
The two senior Liberals held leadership positions and were part of Mr Pesutto’s shadow cabinet at the time.
Mr Pesutto’s register also confirmed that former premiers, including Jeff Kennett, Ted Baillieu, and Denis Napthine, had handed over funds privately.
Malaysian-born property developer, lawyer and philanthropist Jason Yeap and former leader of the Australian Liberal Students’ Federation Xavier Boffa, who also worked for Mr Pesutto, were also revealed as having contributed.
Liberal sources said that the information could lead to fierce preselection battles, with the Liberal membership divided over Ms Deeming’s treatment.
Ms Deeming had filed a lawsuit against Mr Pesutto, accusing him of defaming her by labelling her as a Nazi sympathiser following an anti-trans-rights rally held on the steps of the Victorian parliament last year, which was disrupted by neo-Nazis.
Mr Pesutto lost the case in December last year, which paved the way for a leadership spill which saw leader Brad Battin take the reigns.
Ms Deeming, who had been exiled, was also let back into the party room.
Delivering his much-anticipated judgment following the high-stakes trial, Justice David O’Callaghan ordered Mr Pesutto to pay $300,000 in damages.
However, he also awarded costs which party insiders have estimated could be worth $2 million in Ms Deeming’s legal fees.
Liberal MPs have been approached for comment.
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