John Pesutto’s leadership dead, supporters say, as partyroom spill looms

A spill of the Victorian Liberal Party leadership could be held as soon as Friday, with opposition police spokesman Brad Battin considered the frontrunner to replace Pesutto.

John Pesutto’s supporters believe he cannot survive as Victorian Liberal leader. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

Supporters of Victorian opposition leader John Pesutto have declared his leadership is dead, despite the embattled Liberal pleading to keep his job and backflipping on his blocking of Moira Deeming to the party room.

A leadership spill could be held as soon as this Friday, with opposition police spokesman Brad Battin considered the frontrunner to replace Mr Pesutto.

One Liberal MP who has been a Pesutto supporter told The Australian there was a growing view in the partyroom that Mr Pesutto could be gone before Christmas. “It’s done. It’s over for John,” the Liberal MP said.

“The discussion now is about what the future looks like.”

Ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

The state opposition leader remained defiant late on Sunday in the face of growing calls from ­Liberal MPs, including a number of supporters, for him to stand down with dignity and make way for a new leader.

“We have been resonating positively with Victorians and have a great chance of improving our vote and possibly winning Prahran and Werribee at these by-elections,” Mr Pesutto told The Australian.

“Our work has seen us continue our rise as an alternative government, even with internal challenges. Let’s maintain our focus and direction.”

As at Sunday evening, Mr Battin – a former police officer – was considered the likely leader and finance spokeswoman Jess Wilson a possible candidate for the deputy position, as Liberal MPs spent the weekend attempting to thrash out a deal that would unify the party.

In an attempt to save his collapsing leadership on Sunday, Mr Pesutto did an about-face and ­ordered another special partyroom meeting – set for January 15 – to vote on ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming’s return to the fold. The surprise move came just two days after Mr Pesutto used his casting vote to block Mrs Deeming’s return after the partyroom had been deadlocked on whether to welcome her back.

Mr Pesutto is also facing pressure from federal Liberal colleagues who are growing increasingly concerned that the instability at a state level could bleed into next year’s election.

Peter Dutton is set to delay ­announcing a shadow ministry ­reshuffle in the new year, amid concerns that Mr Pesutto’s ­problems would overshadow any potential positive coverage from a pre-Christmas revamped frontbench.

The Australian understands Victorian politicians Michael Sukkar, Dan Tehan and James Paterson are in the mix for promotions or new responsibilities under the changes, following the retirement announcements of senior moderate Liberals Simon Birmingham and Paul Fletcher.

One frontbench MP said there had been a possibility the federal Opposition Leader was going to unveil his new-look frontbench before Christmas but the Victorian Liberal Party turmoil had delayed it. Mr Dutton wanted to start the new year being “election-ready” with a new team.

In a desperate gamble to save his collapsing leadership, Mr Pesutto spent the weekend issuing public apologies to Mrs Deeming, who scored an emphatic victory in her Federal Court defamation case against him for claiming she associated with neo-Nazis.

“Since last Friday’s meeting, it has become clear that there is now a definite absolute majority of my colleagues who want this issue resolved with her readmission so that we can collectively put this behind us and concentrate on the Prahran and Werribee by-elections and holding the Allan Labor government to account,” Mr Pesutto said in a prepared statement on Sunday.

“I again apologise to Mrs Deeming as we all work together to ensure the Liberal Party succeeds in winning government in November 2026.”

Brad Battin.

Jess Wilson.

A source close to Mrs Deeming says the ousted Liberal MP was furious that Mr Pesutto had not personally apologised to her, but instead opted to issue the mea culpa in press statements. over the weekend.

Victorian Liberal MPs loyal to Mr Pesutto are now conceding his leadership is terminal and have urged him to stand down with dignity.

Amid a chaotic weekend in the wake of Friday’s lineball vote to allow Mrs Deeming back into the partyroom, a number of Pesutto supporters believe he can no longer survive as leader.

One Liberal MP said it was “frustrating” that Mr Pesutto was ignoring the reality of his disintegrating supporter base and this was jeopardising his chances of exiting on his terms.

“We want him to be part of what it (his resignation) looks like, so he can maintain dignity,” the Pesutto loyalist said.

“He’s been frustrating … and the longer he ignores it, the less opportunity for him to be part of the process.”

Despite supporters meeting with Mr Pesutto on Friday and imploring him to stand down, the Opposition Leader dug in on Saturday, declaring he would “fight on” and vowing to campaign in two by-elections due in February.

“The Victorian people know me now after two years as a fighter for them,” Mr Pesutto said. The Australian has confirmed that the only thing keeping Mr Pesutto in the job is the failure of the 30-strong Liberal partyroom to agree on a replacement.

Mr Battin and Ms Wilson were said to be emerging as favourites for the leadership role, amid a flurry of ongoing phone calls and lobbying and numbers counting. Mr Battin, 49, a former police officer, is opposition police spokesman and a member of the conservative faction.

The 34-year-old Ms Wilson is a moderate who was elected to parliament only three years ago.

Ms Wilson’s supporters believe the young mother would help attract female voters back to the Liberal Party and despite her inexperience they believe she is best positioned to take on the Premier, Jacinta Allan.

As of Sunday night, rival factions were unable to agree on a deal. The hopes for a return to the party of Mrs Deeming, who secured a major victory in her defamation case against Mr Pesutto last Thursday with the Federal Court awarding her $315,000 in damages, have also been boosted at the weekend.

Some of the Liberal MPs who voted last Friday against her return now concede that it is inevitable that she will be allowed back into the fold regardless, of whoever replaces Mr Pesutto as the party leader.