Libs Suffer Setback After Nazi Slander Ruling Against Leader
Victoria’s Liberal leader faces a $300,000 defamation ruling, raising questions about his future and party stability
Victoria, John Pesutto, Moira Deeming, Liberal Party, Defamation, Labor Party
Victoria: So, things are looking pretty shaky for the Liberals right now. Their leader, John Pesutto, just got hit with a hefty defamation ruling. He’s been ordered to pay $300,000 to former MP Moira Deeming after implying she had ties to Nazis.
This all kicked off after a rally back in March 2023, where some folks were seen doing Nazi salutes. Pesutto made some pretty strong comments in interviews and during a party expulsion motion that led to this court case.
Even after the ruling, Pesutto isn’t stepping down. He’s still talking about fighting for the party and the people of Victoria, but it’s clear this isn’t a great day for him.
One Liberal MP admitted it wasn’t a “good day” but insisted that Pesutto is still doing a decent job leading the party. They think he’s holding the government accountable, which is important.
There’s talk about some internal issues within the party, but it seems like a special meeting to address Deeming’s return isn’t on the horizon anytime soon.
Experts are saying this ruling is a big win for the Labor party, especially with the Liberal party’s current instability. It could really hurt their chances in the next election.
Deeming kicked off this legal battle back in December 2023, claiming Pesutto’s comments were defamatory. The court found that he didn’t have a solid defense for his statements, which is a tough blow for him.
Now, Pesutto’s lawyers are looking over the judgment to see if they should appeal. It’s a messy situation for the Liberals, and it’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out.