Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto in last-ditch race to save role

Embattled Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto is facing a likely spill motion next week as foes mull how to engineer a bloodless coup.

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto arrives at the Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

Opponents of defiant Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto are preparing to unseat him in a long-running campaign regardless of whether a spill motion is successful next week.

Numbers are being counted to see whether a majority of the partyroom – 16 votes – can be ­secured to pass the spill motion and then hold ballots for the four leadership positions.

MPs are debating how Mr Pesutto should be forced out of the job, with some arguing a bloody coup could further divide an already split party.

Mr Pesutto on Monday effectively dared his opponents to bring on a spill motion next week, even though his hold on the top job has weakened.

The defamation case debacle where he is being sued by exiled former colleague Moira Deeming has escalated tensions within the partyroom.

The three most likely leadership candidates, if a vote ­eventuates, are frontbenchers Brad Battin, James Newbury and Sam Groth.

However, there is a reluctance among some MPs to knife the leader, possibly causing a long campaign of destabilisation ­designed to force Mr Pesutto’s hand.

This would mean that if he were to survive the spill motion, Mr Pesutto would then be pressured over the outcome of the court case.

If he loses the defamation fight, Mr Pesutto will be forced to stand down regardless.

Mr Pesutto challenged his enemies to take him on. “If someone wants to bring a motion at any point, whether it’s next Tuesday or whenever, let them bring it,” he said on Monday.

“And let’s just deal with it calmly and mature(ly).

“But nobody’s told me they’re doing that.’’

Despite this, there are discussions under way across the party about how to resolve the crisis.

Mr Battin and Mr Newbury are senior frontbenchers with the most experience. Neither Mr Newbury nor Mr Battin want a bloody coup, according to multiple insiders.

They are being discussed as the most experienced potential candidates while Mr Groth – a 36-year-old former professional tennis player – is being sold as a new direction for the party.

Senior party sources said if the spill motion did not get up, attempts would be made to unseat Mr Pesutto next month or whenever the defamation case was decided.

“No one wants a bloodbath but he has to go,’’ one MP said. “He lacks judgment and we should be in an even stronger position than we already are.’’

The Weekend Australian ­reported several weeks ago that there was pressure to dump Mr Pesutto to ensure federal ­leader Peter Dutton had a decent path to the federal election in ­Victoria, where cost of living is biting hard and state Labor has blown its budget.