Jeff Kennett rattles tin for John Pesutto over $2.3m legal bill

Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett is leading a fundraising effort to save John Pesutto from bankruptcy.

John Pesutto has been ordered to cover more than $2.3m of Moira Deeming’s legal costs.

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Jeff Kennett has called on Liberals and the party’s cashed-up foundations to dig deep and help cover John Pesutto’s $2.3m legal bill and save the ex-leader from bankruptcy and being ousted from parliament.

As Mr Pesutto’s “closest friends and supporters” established a GoFundMe page that raised $18,000 within hours, the former premier said he hoped there would be enough money collected to settle the debt.

Mr Kennett appealed to two Victorian Liberal Party organisations — the Cormack Foundation and Vapold — on Friday to make big contributions towards the $2.3m legal bill which the Federal Court ruled Mr Pesutto must pay to cover Liberal MP Moira Deeming’s legal fees in the wake of her successful defamation action against him.

“I feel particularly sorry for John and his family because in real terms, while his words were deemed to be unacceptable, he was fundamentally carrying out the wishes of his party,” Mr Kennett told The Australian.

“I very much hope that there will be a gathering of fair minded people who will assist John in meeting this obligation ... he is an asset to the party and I think an asset to the parliament.

The Cormack Foundation is believed to be worth at least $110m, subject to the performance of the share market, but has so far refused to contribute towards Mr Pesutto’s legal costs.

“I would find it unacceptable that the party and those bodies that have accumulated funds in the party’s name did not come forward and assist dramatically,” Mr Kennett said. The Cormack Foundation has been approached for comment.

“I have already had calls from people offering to support (Mr Pesutto). Obviously a lot of money has to be raised and this becomes the challenge, and I hope we can achieve that,” Mr Kennett said.

“I would call on people of fair mindedness and good will to make sure this individual, who in my opinion is absolutely honourable, is not bankrupted for his family’s sake but also for the precedent it would set in play.”

Mr Pesutto has already paid Mrs Deeming $300,000 in damages after her emphatic victory in the Federal Court and now faces bankruptcy and losing his job as the member for Hawthorn, which would be a devastating climax to this political saga that also cost him the leadership.

On Friday, Senior Judicial Registrar Alison Legge in the Federal Court ordered Mr Pesutto to pay $2,308,873.11, including GST, to Ms Deeming in costs.

Responding to the latest legal blow, Mr Pesutto said he was hopeful that he would be able to continue serving as an MP.

“While I am taking time to review today’s court decision with family and advisers, I reiterate that I am determined to continue serving the people of my electorate of Hawthorn and the people of Victoria for as long as they will have me,” Mr Pesutto said in a statement posted on X on Friday.

“I am grateful for the support I am receiving from the community and am hopeful with this support that I will be able to fulfil these obligations and continue serving the people of Victoria.”

Elizabeth Sceney and other friends of the former Victorian Liberal leader set up the GoFundMe page, saying it was established to prevent the “worst-case scenario” of Mr Pesutto being forced to file for bankruptcy.

“This fundraising campaign has been created by JP’s closest friends and supporters to help raise the funds required to prevent this worst-case scenario. JP has always been there for us, so now we are here for him,” the GoFundMe page read.

“Our goal is simple. Let’s give JP the chance to recover from this heavy setback and continue his invaluable work serving our great state and local community.

“Every contribution, regardless of amount, will make a meaningful difference. Whether you can donate financially or share this page, you will be supporting John at this challenging time.”

Mr Pesutto’s electorate of Hawthorn sits within the teal-held federal seat of Kooyong and would present Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin with a major challenge to hold the seat.

At the May 3 federal election, booths in the Hawthorn region of Kooyong tended to vote strongly in favour of teal MP Dr Monique Ryan.

And at the 2018 election, Hawthorn voters ousted Mr Pesutto in favour of a Labor candidate so Liberals are anxious about the party’s chances at a by-election triggered by such a toxic internal feud.

Liberal MP Moira Deeming. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

Following the Federal Court costs ruling on Friday, Mr Battin refused to be drawn on questions about his party’s prospect of success at a possible Hawthorn by-election, which he labelled a “hypothetical”.

Mr Battin denied that any conversations regarding possible Liberal candidates to replace Mr Pesutto had taken place, and insisted he wanted Mr Pesutto to run at the 2026 state election.

“I would like to see John there in November 2026,” he said.

Asked whether the Liberal Party or the Cormack Foundation should step in and provide money to Mr Pesutto to prevent a by-election, Mr Battin said the issues were “internal party matters”.

“I will keep them internal and confidential, as my colleagues would expect me to when I have conversations with them,” he said.

Ms Deeming sued Mr Pesutto over allegations that he falsely portrayed her as a Nazi sympathiser after she helped organise and attended a Let Women Speak rally that was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis.