'Vindicated': Ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming wins high-profile ...

John Pesutto has hit back at suggestions he was evasive when he testified in the Federal Court defamation case brought by ex-Liberal MP Moira Deeming.

In a judgment revealed earlier today, Justice David O’Callaghan criticised Pesutto for “time and time again” giving lengthy and non-responsive answers to questions asked of him by Deeming’s barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, SC.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto speaks to the media in the Liberal Party room at Parliament House. Credit: Eddie Jim, The Age

O’Callaghan said he was unable to conclude that Pesutto gave dishonest evidence but described it as “infuriatingly unresponsive”.

At a press conference moments ago, a reporter put these criticisms to Pesutto, who responded:

I’m comfortable that, in this sense, that the judge has not made adverse findings as to credit. It’s not uncommon that people in their evidence may not respond to a question from counsel in the way that counsel may like. And I understand that his honour has put that there, but I think the broader point is that there’s no adverse findings against them in terms of credit.

“Moira Deeming has been vindicated by the Federal Court,” Former prime minister Tony Abbott wrote on X.

“No Liberal should ever be in trouble for standing up for the rights of women and girls,” he said in his social media post. “She should now swiftly be readmitted to the party room.”

Former prime minister Tony Abbott and incoming vice president J.D. Vance last week.Credit: X

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has declared he will not resign as Liberal leader after the Federal Court found he defamed ousted MP Moira Deeming.

Speaking at a press conference moments ago, Pesutto said none of his parliamentary colleagues had told him to step down.

Pesutto has declared he will not resign.Credit: Nine News

“We need better leadership in Victoria. That’s why I have this job. That’s why I intend to continue in this role,” Pesutto said.

“Now, today’s decision by the Federal Court is obviously a very disappointing outcome, but I respect the court’s decision.

“I have always been a fighter,” he told reporters on Thursday afternoon.

Former premier Jeff Kennett has urged Liberal MPs to back Opposition Leader John Pesutto and flagged the need to offer financial support to help foot his massive legal bill.

“We’ll have to raise some funds for John to pay for this,” he told this masthead. “He was the leader of the party and if this sort of legal action was to take place on a regular basis no one would stand for parliament.

“We have got to raise some money to make sure he is not bankrupted.”

Former premier Jeff Kennett.Credit: Getty Images

“Thank god it is over,” Kennett said.

“He hasn’t acted dishonourably, he has acted as honestly as he could and in many cases, he was representing the party’s view.”

When asked whether Pesutto should continue as party leader, Kennett urged Liberal MPs to back him.

“From what I have heard, most of the party are shocked at this decision and coming to grips with it, but now, it’s about everyone coming together and supporting the leader and getting on with the job we were elected to do. This is now a test of everyone in the party.

“I now hope the party will get behind him as they should and John will now lead us into the next election. I want to focus on the main game. We have got to change the government.”

Opposition Leader John Pesutto was ordered this morning to pay ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming $300,000 for defaming her on five occasions, in a judgment that could cost him his job.

He will speak to reporters at 2.30pm.

John Pesutto.Credit: Jesse Marlow

UK activist Kellie-Jay Keen reacted live to Moira Deeming’s win this morning, writing on social media platform X: “She won!!!”

Keen was an organiser of the Let Them Speak rally. “On 18th March 2023 brave women gathered in Melbourne to speak about women’s rights and the safeguarding of children,” Keen wrote.

Deeming and Kellie-Jay Keen at the Let Women Speak rally in March 2023.Credit: X

“Moira Deeming stood firm, for all of us, and held the dishonest cowards to account.

“I’m truly privileged to call her my friend.

“Thank you, Moira.”

NSW property developer Hilton Grugeon, who helped bankroll Moira Deeming’s legal case through a loan, said justice has been done.

“The whole thing was about Moira getting justice, and justice has now been done,” Grugeon said.

He said Pesutto had been shown to be untruthful in the Federal Court judgment. “No party wants a leader that has been publicly exposed for that.”

He said the leadership was not Pesutto’s by right and it was up to the party room to determine whether he stays on.

Moira Deeming said the judgment in her favour was cathartic but the matter should not have had to be dealt with in court.

The whole thing could have been avoided, she said. “I don’t understand the decisions that were made that led to this outcome. I had no other way to defend myself and to have these things retracted,” Deeming told reporters.

Moira Deeming arrives at the Federal Court in October.Credit: Joe Armao

“I was never the aggressor, and all I did was defend myself. Apparently, all I did wrong was refused to defame innocent women without any evidence.″⁣

Deeming said she was never going to let it go unchallenged that “innocent women rallying against the destruction of every single commonsense safeguard designed to protect them and their children could be attacked and scapegoated as Nazis and bigots”.

“Those of us in this fight to restore parental rights, sex-based rights for women, and safeguards for children are in every political party. We are in every workplace, every union, every family. We will never run out of energy,” she said.“We will never be crushed, and we are going to survive whatever it is that you want to throw at us, and then we will win.”