Under-pressure Liberal leader John Pesutto vows to stay on

Under-pressure Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto has brushed off pressure from within his own party to stand down.

Pesutto’s leadership was under threat on Friday after a vote on whether to readmit exiled MP Moira Deeming ended in a 14-14 draw, prompting him to use his casting vote to keep her out of the party room. A coalition of political allies and opponents urged him to step down in the wake of the deadlocked vote.

Speaking in St Kilda East on Saturday, Pesutto said he would continue to fight on.

He denied he’d been given an ultimatum to resign. “The Victorian people know me now after two years as a fighter for them,” Pesutto said.

Some of Pesutto’s allies informed him on Friday that he needed to reconsider his position because the narrow vote had cost him the support of key backers.

Three MPs said opposition police spokesman Brad Battin and finance spokeswoman Jess Wilson were being pushed as a leadership team to unite the left and right of the divided party room.

Pesutto has vowed to stay on as opposition leader.Credit: Chris Hopkins

One MP, speaking on condition of anonymity on Friday to discuss confidential matters, said Pesutto had been told he had 24 hours to step down or he would face a challenge.

Deeming said on Friday she was “deeply disappointed” with the result of the vote, but declared it was only a matter of time before she received an apology from Pesutto and was reinstated into the parliamentary party after her defamation win over the Liberal leader in the Federal Court last week.

On Saturday, Pesutto also came the closest he has since his defamation loss to Deeming to issuing an apology.

“I would say to the party room and to Mrs Deeming that I am sorry for the findings that have been reported on, but it’s important to move on,” Pesutto said.

“The court’s findings dealt with what was found against me. I’m apologising for those things, and I think that’s appropriate.”

Asked if he’d be willing to apologise to Deeming in person, Pesutto said: “Of course.” Asked if he had done so, he said: “Not yet.”

“What I want to say to the Victorian people is that you know me as a fighter, that I get up every day pursuing the issues on your behalf, and that’s what I’m committed to,” he said.

“We’ve got a real responsibility as an opposition and alternative government to pursue issues, cost of living, cost of energy, community safety, and integrity in government, these are the things we need to focus on.”

Pesutto said that after two years, Victorians know him “as a fighter for them”.Credit: Chris Hopkins

Pesutto said he was focused on winning the Prahran byelection rather than calling another party room meeting.

“As leader I’m going to continue doing this job,” he said.

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