John Pesutto refuses to repeat apology to Kellie-Jay Keen and Angela Jones

John Pesutto has refused to repeat the apology he made to activists Kellie-Jay Keen and Angela Jones in a statement issued after the three parties reached an out-of-court settlement.

Moira Deeming and Kellie-Jay Keen at the Let Women Speak rally in March 2023. Picture: YouTube

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto has refused to repeat or discuss the details of a carefully-worded statement he issued after reaching an out-of-court settlement and paying costs to activists Kellie-Jay Keen and Angela Jones, as expelled Liberal Moira Deeming vows to continue her legal action against him.

Mr Pesutto repeatedly referred journalists to the statement, which was quietly published on his website at midnight on Thursday, in response to a series of questions at his Friday press conference.

In the statement, the Liberal leader apologised to UK activist Ms Keen and Melbourne-based gender critical feminist Angela Jones for “any hurt, distress or harm that has occurred” as a result of his comments being “misunderstood as conveying” that he believed them to be neo-Nazis or members of neo-Nazi groups.

Ms Keen and Ms Jones had joined Ms Deeming in suing Mr Pesutto for defamation in the Federal Court over comments he made as he moved to expel his then Liberal colleague from the parliamentary party in the wake of a March 2023 “Let Women Speak” rally the three women organised to protest against what they see as infringements upon women’s and children’s rights by transgender activists.

A group of transgender activists conducted a counter-rally, and a group of neo-Nazis also attended the Spring Street precinct, and performed the Nazi salute on the steps of state parliament.

Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Luis Enrique Ascui

Having stated in a radio interview in the week following the rally that Ms Keen “absolutely” had “associations with Nazis”, Mr Pesutto described her and Ms Jones in his statement on Thursday as “passionate women’s rights activists with long histories of advocacy in Australia and internationally.”

“I agree with them that genuine community concerns regarding women’s safety and access to single-sex spaces, services and sport warrant meaningful public discussion,” the Liberal leader’s statement said.

“It has never been my intention to convey that I believed Ms Keen and Ms Jones to be neo-Nazis, or that they were members of neo-Nazi groups. As far as my comments may have been misunderstood as conveying that I believed this to be the case, I apologise for any hurt, distress or harm that has occurred.”

But when he was asked repeatedly at a press conference on Friday to discuss the content of his statement, Mr Pesutto refused.

“I’ve made a statement, as part of the resolution of two of those three matters. I refer everybody to that statement. I haven’t spent a lot of time on it. My lawyers informed me yesterday that the matters had been resolved. I’m pleased that they’re resolved,” the Liberal leader said.

Asked whether he actually believed in the statement, or whether it had simply been drafted by lawyers to make the court battle “go away”, Mr Pesutto said: “There’s nothing in the statement that I don’t stand by.”

“It represents an outcome, and as I said, the words used and that were agreed between the parties were very deliberately used by the parties … and that’s why I’m being very careful in referring any questions to that statement,” he said.

Let Women Speak organisers Moira Deeming, left, Kellie-Jay Keen, Katherine Deves and Angela Jones. Picture: YouTube

Mr Pesutto conceded he had paid legal costs to Ms Keen and Ms Jones as part of the settlement, but downplayed the sum as a “small contribution” and said he had not paid them damages.

He said his legal bill had been funded by donors, who include former Premiers Jeff Kennett, Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine, as well as out of his own pocket.

Mrs Deeming said the settlements with Ms Keen and Ms Jones would have “no impact” on her decision to continue legal action, with a two week trial set to proceed in the Federal Court in September.

She said Mr Pesutto “did not approach” her with the offer he had made to Ms Keen and Ms Jones.

The key sticking point between Mr Pesutto and Mrs Deeming remains her demand to be readmitted to the Liberal partyroom, which would require the agreement of a majority of MPs.