John Pesutto: Defamation case and Moira Deeming expulsion
Few political sagas in Victoria have unfolded as dramatically as the one involving John Pesutto and Moira Deeming. In December 2024, the Federal Court found that Pesutto defamed Deeming and ordered damages of $300,000, a judgment that reshaped the state’s Liberal leadership. This article traces the expulsion, the defamation case, the apology, and the fallout that still ripples through Victorian politics.
Member for Hawthorn since: 2022 ·
Liberal Party leader: 2022–2024 ·
Moira Deeming expulsion: March 2023 ·
Defamation case filed: 2023 ·
Apology to Keen & Jones: May 2024
Quick snapshot
- John Pesutto was the Victorian Liberal leader until December 2024 (The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet))
- Moira Deeming was expelled from the party room on 12 May 2023 (The Guardian (Australian news outlet))
- Pesutto defamed Deeming; damages set at $300,000 (The Sydney Morning Herald)
- Pesutto apologised to Kellie-Jay Keen and Angie Jones in May 2024 (ABC News (Australian public broadcaster))
- The exact terms of the defamation settlement beyond the reported damages
- Whether Moira Deeming will rejoin the Liberal Party room
- The full extent of the rally’s neo-Nazi involvement
- The internal party dynamics that led to the 19-11 vote
- Nov 2022: Pesutto elected to Hawthorn (The Sydney Morning Herald)
- Mar 2023: Deeming attends anti‑trans rally gatecrashed by neo‑Nazis (ABC News)
- May 2023: Deeming expelled (The Guardian)
- Dec 2024: Federal Court finds defamation; Pesutto replaced by Brad Battin (The Sydney Morning Herald)
- Deeming’s readmission bid: split vote blocked it in Dec 2024 (SBS News (Australian multicultural broadcaster))
- July 2026: state executive cancels Deeming’s endorsement (The Guardian)
- Liberal Party faces internal stability questions under new leader Battin (SBS News (Australian multicultural broadcaster))
Six facts about John Pesutto, one pattern: a career built on legal and political expertise that became entangled in a bitter party dispute.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Pesutto |
| Position | Member for Hawthorn, former Leader of the Opposition |
| Party | Liberal Party |
| Born | 1970 |
| Education | University of Melbourne (BA, LLB) |
| Elected | 2022 |
What happened to Moira Deeming?
Why was Moira Deeming expelled from the Liberal Party?
Moira Deeming was expelled from the Victorian Liberal parliamentary party room on 12 May 2023 after a party room vote of 19 to 11 (The Guardian). The expulsion followed her threat of legal action against John Pesutto over comments linked to the Let Women Speak rally (SBS News).
The trigger was Deeming’s attendance at an anti‑trans rights rally on the steps of Victorian Parliament House in March 2023 that was later gatecrashed by neo‑Nazis (ABC News). Pesutto, who supported the expulsion, called it a “turning point” for the party (ABC News).
What is the controversy with Moira Deeming?
The controversy centres on whether Deeming knowingly associated with far‑right figures at the rally. Deeming has maintained she attended the event to speak about women’s rights and did not endorse the neo‑Nazi presence. The party room judged that her attendance had brought discredit on the Liberal Party, leading to the expulsion vote.
The party room’s 19‑11 split reveals a deep fracture: one faction saw Deeming’s attendance as a breach of discipline, while another viewed the expulsion as a political overreach that would later fuel a defamation case.
Who is the leader of the opposition in Victoria?
Who is the head of the Liberal Party in Victoria?
John Pesutto was the leader of the opposition and head of the Victorian Liberal Party from December 2022 until December 2024. He was replaced by Brad Battin after the defamation finding (The Sydney Morning Herald). As of the latest reporting, Battin holds the position.
Who is the female liberal leader in Victoria?
There is currently no female leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria. The party’s deputy leader is David Southwick. No woman has held the top position since the party’s formation in the state.
The implication: The party’s leadership remains male-dominated, a factor that may influence future internal dynamics.
What is Moira Deeming doing now?
Does Moira Deeming have children?
Yes, Moira Deeming has children. She has been a vocal advocate on issues she says affect her family, including women’s rights and parental concerns about transgender policies. She is currently an independent member of the Victorian Legislative Council following her expulsion.
She filed a defamation case against John Pesutto in 2023, which resulted in the Federal Court finding Pesutto had defamed her and ordering damages of $300,000 (The Sydney Morning Herald). A separate SBS report put the figure at $315,632 plus costs (SBS News).
What this means: Her legal victory did not secure her return to the party, indicating ongoing tensions.
Who is John Pesutto?
What is John Pesutto’s background?
John Pesutto is a lawyer and politician who was first elected as the member for Hawthorn in 2022. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne. Before entering politics, he worked as a solicitor and served as a ministerial adviser in the Victorian government. He became leader of the Victorian Liberal Party in December 2022.
Why did John Pesutto apologize to Moira Deeming?
Pesutto did not apologise to Deeming directly. Instead, he issued a public apology in May 2024 to Kellie‑Jay Keen and Angie Jones, two activists he had defamed in comments about the same rally. The apology formed part of a settlement of those two defamation claims. The Federal Court judgment noted that the apology stated it had never been Pesutto’s intention to convey that Keen and Jones were neo‑Nazis (Federal Court of Australia (Australia’s highest trial court)).
What is the defamation case against John Pesutto?
Moira Deeming sued John Pesutto for defamation in 2023 over comments he made about her involvement with the rally. In December 2024, the Federal Court found that the pleaded imputations would be defamatory of Deeming and ordered damages of $300,000 (The Sydney Morning Herald). The judgment also included an apology text that Pesutto had published as part of the earlier settlement with Keen and Jones.
Pesutto’s apology to Keen and Jones did not satisfy Deeming, and the court’s finding that his comments were defamatory of Deeming – even if not aimed at her directly – exposes the risk of collateral damage when public figures speak about controversial events.
The pattern: A legal case that began within the party room ended up costing Pesutto his leadership.
What was the last Liberal government in Victoria?
The last Liberal government in Victoria was led by Denis Napthine from 2013 to 2014. The Liberal Party has been in opposition since the 2014 state election, when Labor won a majority. The party has since struggled to regain power, with internal divisions – including the Pesutto‑Deeming affair – complicating its electoral prospects.
Timeline of key events
- November 2022: John Pesutto elected as member for Hawthorn.
- December 2022: Pesutto becomes leader of the Victorian Liberal Party.
- March 2023: Moira Deeming attends an anti‑trans rally that is later gatecrashed by neo‑Nazis (ABC News).
- 12 May 2023: Deeming expelled from the Liberal party room by a vote of 19 to 11 (The Guardian).
- 2023: Deeming files a defamation lawsuit against Pesutto.
- 5 February 2024: Federal Court judgment includes apology text from Pesutto to Keen and Jones (Federal Court of Australia).
- May 2024: Pesutto settles with Keen and Jones, publishes apology (ABC News).
- December 2024: Federal Court finds Pesutto defamed Deeming; orders $300,000 damages. Pesutto removed as leader; replaced by Brad Battin (The Sydney Morning Herald).
- 20 December 2024: Split vote (14–14) blocks Deeming’s return to the Liberal Party (SBS News).
- 17 July 2026: Victorian Liberal state executive cancels Deeming’s endorsement for the Western Metropolitan region (The Guardian).
The timeline shows how quickly events escalated from expulsion to leadership change.
What’s confirmed and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- John Pesutto was the leader of the opposition in Victoria until December 2024 (The Sydney Morning Herald).
- Moira Deeming was expelled from the Liberal Party room in March 2023 (The Guardian).
- Pesutto published an apology to Kellie‑Jay Keen and Angie Jones in May 2024 (ABC News).
- The Federal Court found Pesutto defamed Deeming and ordered damages of $300,000 (The Sydney Morning Herald).
What’s unclear
- The exact terms of the defamation settlement beyond the reported damages figure.
- Whether Deeming will eventually be readmitted to the Liberal Party.
- The precise nature of the neo‑Nazi involvement at the March 2023 rally.
- The internal party dynamics that led to the 19-11 vote.
“This is a turning point for the Victorian Liberal Party.”
— John Pesutto, speaking after the expulsion vote, as reported by ABC News
“If Pesutto’s comments were carried, the pleaded imputations would be defamatory of Deeming.”
— Federal Court of Australia, judgment in Deeming v Pesutto (No 3), 2024 FCA 1430
For the Victorian Liberal Party, the path forward remains uncertain: either unite under new leader Brad Battin or continue to face internal division that could cost them the next election. For John Pesutto, the defamation finding has ended his leadership, but his political career may not be over.
Frequently asked questions
Is John Pesutto still the leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria?
No. He was replaced by Brad Battin in December 2024 after the Federal Court found he had defamed Moira Deeming.
Why did Moira Deeming attend the rally that led to her expulsion?
Deeming attended the Let Women Speak rally on 18 March 2023 to speak about women’s rights. She has stated she did not endorse the neo‑Nazi presence that later joined the event.
What was the rally about?
The rally was organised by British activist Kellie‑Jay Keen and focused on opposing transgender rights. It was gatecrashed by a group of neo‑Nazis, which led to widespread condemnation.
How long has John Pesutto been in politics?
He was first elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in November 2022, so just over two years as of early 2025.
What is the current status of the defamation case?
The Federal Court has made its finding and ordered damages. The parties have not publicly disclosed whether an appeal is under way.
Has John Pesutto faced any other controversies?
Beyond the Deeming affair, Pesutto’s leadership was marked by internal party tensions over the expulsion and the defamation case. No other major controversies have been reported.
Who is the deputy leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria?
The deputy leader is David Southwick, who has held the position since December 2022.
For similar profiles of Australian public figures, see our article on George Pell. For a biography of a political leader, see Emmanuel Macron.
More related posts
Andrew Denton: from TV host to end-of-life advocate
Lil Yachty: Kids, Net Worth, Poland Song, and Biography
Employee Assistance Programme Ireland: Complete Guide
ASX:BOE Boss Energy Rallies 54% as Analysts Clash
Tina Turner’s Cause of Death: Her Final Years & Legacy
Hotel Del Luna – Plot Cast Ending Streaming Guide
Nike Tech Fleece Pants Guide: Prices, Sizing & Where to Buy
Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Age, Net Worth, Husband and Career
