In a stunning reversal, Victorian Liberal Leader John Pesutto has called for a fresh vote to readmit controversial MP Moira Deeming back into the parliamentary party, just days after he voted against allowing her return. The abrupt about-face comes amidst intense pressure on Pesutto’s leadership.
Deeming was expelled from the Liberals in May 2023 after attending a rally that was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis. She subsequently sued Pesutto for defamation over comments implying she had knowingly associated with the far-right extremists, and was awarded $300,000 in damages by the Federal Court last week.
Pesutto Backtracks on Deeming Decision
On Friday, the Victorian Liberal party room voted on a motion to readmit Deeming, resulting in a 14-14 tie that Pesutto broke by voting against her return. At the time, he declared that the poll “concludes the matter.”
However, in a statement released Sunday, Pesutto announced an extraordinary backflip, saying he had called a special party room meeting for January 15 to again vote on readmitting Deeming. He acknowledged it had “become clear that there is now a definite absolute majority” of his colleagues who wanted to welcome her back.
“I again apologise to Mrs Deeming as we all work together to ensure the Liberal party succeeds in winning government in November 2026,” Pesutto said in the statement.
Leadership Under Threat
The backflip comes as speculation mounts over a challenge to Pesutto’s leadership of the Victorian Liberals. Several moderate MPs are reportedly planning for a future without him at the helm, instead pushing for a Brad Battin and Jess Wilson leadership team to unite the divided party room.
It’s understood that Wilson, along with MPs Michael O’Brien and Brad Roswell, met with Pesutto and urged him to stand down, which he refused. Another unnamed MP said they “highly doubt” Pesutto would last in the leadership until the proposed January 15 vote on Deeming’s return.
Liberals Remain Divided
The issue of Deeming’s party room status has laid bare the deep divisions between conservative and moderate factions of the Victorian Liberals. Her initial expulsion highlighted the party’s attempts to distance itself from far-right elements, but the push to readmit her demonstrates the ongoing sway of hardliners.
For Pesutto, the Deeming saga has proven a major distraction as he attempts to both stamp his authority on the party and present a viable alternative government to Victorian voters. With his leadership now openly questioned, the January vote shapes as a defining moment for his political future.
The Victorian Liberal party room remains in turmoil, as the tug-of-war over the status of controversial MP Moira Deeming sees leader John Pesutto execute an extraordinary backflip. The coming weeks will determine if Pesutto can quell the uprising against his leadership, or if the Deeming issue will prove a fatal blow to his hold on the party.
