Multiple Liberal MPs are set to pressure John Pesutto to stand down and avoid a messy leadership coup

A Liberal colleague who has until now been regarded as a strong supporter of John Pesutto says “the party has no choice” but to act, with three MPs leading the race to be the next leader.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto is facing pressure to stand down, as Liberals despair in the fallout from his defamation fight with exiled MP Moira Deeming.

Senior Liberals are now actively preparing for a change of leadership, saying the court case has made Mr Pesutto’s position untenable.

It comes after Mr Pesutto spent four days testifying in the Federal Court, sparking internal criticism that he was not able to focus on his main job.

With the case running behind schedule, the matter will now hang over the heads of Liberals for at least another three weeks before the parties can make their closing submissions.

Senior Liberals say the Moira Deeming court case has made John Pesutto’s position untenable. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

A judgment in the matter might not follow until next year.

“The end of October for the closings has come like a straw that has broken the camel’s back,” one Liberal MP said.

“There are now multiple conversations happening.

“The partyroom is now saying it’s not personal, but it is not tenable. It is not his fault, no one’s blaming him, but at what point do you say this is just not tenable?”

Liberal MPs say multiple conversations are happening about Mr Pesutto’s future. Picture: Aaron Francis

The Herald Sun spoke to multiple MPs on Monday who said they would pressure Mr Pesutto to stand down and avoid a messy leadership coup.

“People want him to do the right thing by the party,” one MP said.

Federal Liberals have been left frustrated by the Deeming matter, which has dragged on since March last year.

There are fears that matter will interfere with the looming federal election, but that it could also negatively affect the 2026 state election.

“The party has no choice, it just cannot continue, it’s hugely upsetting, but that’s the truth,” said another senior Liberal MP who has until now been regarded as a strong supporter of Mr Pesutto. “All options are being considered.”

One MP said they want Mr Pesutto to ‘do the right thing by the party’. Picture: Getty

Sam Groth, Brad Battin and James Newbury have all been identified as potential replacements for Mr Pesutto.

But it is understood no single MP has yet got the numbers to mount a successful challenge.

Mr Pesutto, who won the leadership of the party by a single vote following the 2022 election, is due to meet with his shadow cabinet on Tuesday.

MPs have been counting the numbers for months, and now firmly believe a spill motion to oust Mr Pesutto would succeed if he didn’t resign.

Sam Groth. Picture: Tony Gough

Brad Battin. Picture: Aaron Francis

James Newbury. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mr Pesutto has come under intense pressure since March last year when he first moved to expel Mrs Deeming from the parliamentary team after she attended a Let Women Speak rally on the steps of parliament.

However, since then he has overseen a significant boost in the polls, with the Coalition now ahead of Labor by 10 points on primary votes.

Latest polling predicts a 50-50 two-party-preferred result after the distribution of preferences.

Mr Pesutto has repeatedly insisted he would lead the party to the 2026 election.

He was hailed as the Liberals’ great hope in the wake of the party’s stunning state election loss in November 2022.

A vote on the leadership would be the fourth since March 2021, when Mr Battin failed in a coup against Michael O’Brien.

Matthew Guy then successfully challenged for the job in September 2021.

Mr Pesutto’s office was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Multiple Liberal MPs are set to pressure John Pesutto to stand down and avoid a messy leadership coup