As it happened: Ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming wins high-profile defamation case; Opposition Leader John Pesutto declares he will not resign

John Pesutto was a man driven by political fear, a high-stakes defamation judgment found today.

Anxious about the damage that would be inflicted upon his fledgling leadership by the then Premier Daniel Andrews, then by his professed concern that his party would be brought into disrepute, Pesutto failed to mention Moira Deeming’s side of the story.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto at Parliament House after the judgment.Credit: Eddie Jim

He also failed to take care with his language in interviews and a press conference, “bandying around” words like ‘Nazi’ and ‘Nazi sympathisers’.

And in doing so, he defamed Deeming so profoundly that he now owes her $300,000.

This is the picture Justice David O’Callaghan painted of the Victorian Liberal Party leader in his judgment today. Sources say the overall legal bill will be closer to $2 million, and former premier Jeff Kennett is already rousing Liberal troops to make sure Pesutto doesn’t end up bankrupt.

Even so, Pesutto declared that he was “a fighter” and pointed out that O’Callaghan had also found that he believed he was acting in the party’s interests.

The long day began with Pesutto waking early to support his daughter as she opened her VCE results, and it ended with him publicly declaring he would stay on at his job.

Meanwhile, Moira Deeming says the judgment has left her feeling vindicated. “I was made out to be a troublemaker,” she told reporters after the decision.

Moira Deeming wore purple during the trial, a colour historically associated with efforts to achieve gender equality.Credit: The Age

“Not one Liberal Party value was honoured or furthered in Victoria by this relentless and remorseless campaign to discredit me and all those who stood by me,” she said.

“This should not have come to this, I should not have had to go to court. This could have all been avoided.”

• Click here for our full news story: ‘I’m a fighter’: John Pesutto declares he’ll stay as leader after damning defamation judgment
• Click here for our political sketch: Note to Pesutto: Don’t mention the war

John Pesutto has stopped short of apologising to ex-Liberal MP Moira Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her.

When asked if an apology was in order at a press conference, Pesutto said: “I think you’ll appreciate it’s a long judgment. I do want to get my lawyers’ views on the judgment before I do anything further.

John Pesutto and Moira Deeming.Credit: The Age

“And I think that’s a fairly reasonable position to have. I’m not asking for weeks and weeks. I’m just asking for my lawyers overnight to have a look at the decision in some detail, to give me their thoughts, before I do anything further.

“I think that’s a reasonable ask.”

John Pesutto might have done himself a favour if he’d acquainted himself with a modish law of the internet or had studied a little political philosophy from the last century, writes Tony Wright.

Had the Victorian Liberal leader done so, he might have stumbled across two sage pieces of advice for those unwise enough to reference Nazis in their arguments – and saved himself a lot of trouble after a judge found today that he defamed ousted Liberal Moira Deeming as a Nazi sympathiser.

Both boil down to the idea that if you mention the Nazis, you’ve already lost the argument.

Read the full story here.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has denied the Deeming defamation case has been a distraction for the Liberal Party, saying the Coalition had made great strides in becoming a viable alternative state government.

In a press conference that wrapped up just before 3pm, Pesutto said today’s Federal Court judgment ordering him to pay $300,000 to upper house MP Moira Deeming marked the end of litigation that engulfed the Victorian Liberals.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto speaks to the media at Parliament House after the judgment.Credit: Eddie Jim

“And yes, the decision is disappointing, as I’ve said, but it does bring the matter to a conclusion,” Pesutto said.

“And I should say that throughout this trial, and in particular the hearing itself, as an opposition and as the alternative government, we have been achieving great strides in resonating with the Victorian people.

“And I’m finding that when we’re out in the community – as we are every day, talking to them about the issues that matter – they’re embracing us more as that alternative and that alternative government that can provide a positive future.”

John Pesutto has hit back at suggestions he was evasive when he testified in the Federal Court defamation case brought by Moira Deeming.

In a judgment revealed today, Justice David O’Callaghan criticised Pesutto for “time and time again” giving lengthy and non-responsive answers to questions asked of him by Deeming’s barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, SC.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto at Parliament House after the judgment. Credit: Eddie Jim

O’Callaghan said he was unable to conclude that Pesutto gave dishonest evidence but described it as “infuriatingly unresponsive”.

At a press conference moments ago, a reporter put these criticisms to Pesutto, who responded:

I’m comfortable that, in this sense, that the judge has not made adverse findings as to credit. It’s not uncommon that people in their evidence may not respond to a question from counsel in the way that counsel may like. And I understand that his honour has put that there, but I think the broader point is that there’s no adverse findings against them in terms of credit.

“Moira Deeming has been vindicated by the Federal Court,” former prime minister Tony Abbott wrote on X.

“No Liberal should ever be in trouble for standing up for the rights of women and girls,” he said in his social media post. “She should now swiftly be readmitted to the party room.”

Former prime minister Tony Abbott and incoming US vice president J.D. Vance last week.Credit: X

John Pesutto says he wouldn’t support Moira Deeming being readmitted to the state Liberal parliamentary party room, but emphasised the decision wasn’t up to him.

The first question Pesutto was asked at a press conference moments ago was: “John, will you allow Moira into the parliamentary party room?”

Moira Deeming exiting the Liberal party room in March 2023.Credit: Darrian Traynor

In response, Pesutto said: “Decisions like that, are not matters for me alone ... I’ve been on record previously saying I wouldn’t support that. But that’s not to say that matters cannot be put before the party room. It’s a matter always for the party room.”

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has declared he will not resign as Liberal leader after the Federal Court found he defamed ousted MP Moira Deeming.

Speaking at a press conference moments ago, Pesutto said none of his parliamentary colleagues had told him to step down.

Pesutto has declared he will not resign.Credit: Nine News

“We need better leadership in Victoria. That’s why I have this job. That’s why I intend to continue in this role,” Pesutto said.

“Now, today’s decision by the Federal Court is obviously a very disappointing outcome, but I respect the court’s decision.

“I have always been a fighter,” he told reporters on Thursday afternoon.

Former premier Jeff Kennett has urged Liberal MPs to back Opposition Leader John Pesutto and flagged the need to offer financial support to help foot his massive legal bill.

“We’ll have to raise some funds for John to pay for this,” he told this masthead. “He was the leader of the party and if this sort of legal action was to take place on a regular basis no one would stand for parliament.

“We have got to raise some money to make sure he is not bankrupted.”

Former premier Jeff Kennett.Credit: Getty Images

“Thank god it is over,” Kennett said.

“He hasn’t acted dishonourably, he has acted as honestly as he could and in many cases, he was representing the party’s view.”

When asked whether Pesutto should continue as party leader, Kennett urged Liberal MPs to back him.

“From what I have heard, most of the party are shocked at this decision and coming to grips with it, but now, it’s about everyone coming together and supporting the leader and getting on with the job we were elected to do. This is now a test of everyone in the party.

“I now hope the party will get behind him as they should and John will now lead us into the next election. I want to focus on the main game. We have got to change the government.”