Latest news with #Deeming
Herald Sun
02-07-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Liberal group wants court to order John Pesutto to repay loan
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Victorian Liberal Party's administrative committee is at war, with a new legal bid to force Moira Deeming to pay back the $1.55m she received from the controversial Pesutto loan deal. If successful John Pesutto — who was loaned $1.55m from the party to help repay the $2.3m he owed Mrs Deeming — would face a renewed bankruptcy threat and disqualification from parliament. The Herald Sun can reveal four members of the administrative committee — Erin Hunt, Anthony Schneider, Ian Pugh, and Marcus Li — have joined Colleen Harkin as plaintiffs in a Supreme Court challenge to the loan, which was approved by the committee last month. It pits them directly against the committee's other 14 members in a legal case sources connected to the matter say could last up to 12 months, potentially embroiling the party in ongoing controversy until the eve of next year's state election. Mrs Deeming has now also been joined to the matter as a defendant. Ms Harkin last week lodged an urgent application with the Supreme Court in an attempt to block the payment of the loan from the party to Mr Pesutto and consequently to Mrs Deeming. She argued the loan was invalid under the party's constitution. But the money was paid by Liberal Party entity, Vapold, before the matter was first heard in court. Now, in new documents lodged with the court, the five-member group wants the $1.55m loan to be repaid in full, with a declaration that the funds are held in trust for the Members of the Victorian Liberal Party. They also want the court to declare that Vapold directors Alan Stockdale, a former Victorian treasurer, current party treasurer Karyn Sobels and Christopher Pearce 'have acted in breach of trust by paying the funds to the trust account of (lawyers for Mrs Deeming) Giles George.' If successful, Mr Pesutto would again owe Mrs Deeming $1.55m and face the potential of fresh bankruptcy proceedings. If ultimately forced into bankruptcy Mr Pesutto would be ineligible to sit in parliament which would trigger a by-election in his seat of Hawthorn. Senior Liberals had hoped clearing the loan would end the more than two year legal saga between Mr Pesutto and Mrs Deeming. Sources familiar with the fresh legal action said it would be forcefully prosecuted as a matter of principle. They say the loan should have been considered by the party's State Council. More than 70 party members have now signed a request to state director Stuart Smith to convene a special meeting of the party's State Council to also deal with the matter. Party rules stipulate a special meeting must be convened at the written request of at least 50 members. But they also allow an almost three month window for the meeting to be held. The next general State Council meeting is set to take place in September. Party President Phil Davis said last month the Pesutto loan agreement would allow the party to focus on the election. 'By ensuring that Mrs Deeming has been paid, there will be no Hawthorn by-election, and the State Parliamentary team can focus on the urgent needs of the Victorian community, particularly campaigning to change the government at the 2026 Election,' he said. 'Victorians need a change of government. By ensuring that Mrs Deeming gets paid what she is owed, the Party will be stronger as we head towards November 2026.' Those sentiments were echoed by Opposition Leader Brad Battin who has now also been drawn into the legal case as a defendant. Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay Mrs Deeming $2.3m in legal costs after she successfully prosecuted a defamation case against him. It was prompted by his assertions that she had links to neo-Nazis following her attendance at a women's rights rally on the steps of parliament in March 2023.
The Advertiser
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Judge slams 'half baked' legal fight after Liberal loan
A judge has hit out at a "half-baked" legal attempt to stop a $1.55 million Liberal loan to save the political future of its former leader. The legal challenge came after the Victorian Liberals' administrative committee decided to lend former leader John Pesutto money to settle his outstanding defamation debt to MP Moira Deeming. Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. He coughed up $315,000 in damages and raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign, with the remaining $1.55 million leaving him facing bankruptcy. Legal documents filed with the Supreme Court on Thursday sought to block the loan on the grounds it potentially breaches party rules, naming party entity Vapold as a defendant. It was brought by Colleen Harkin, named in the documents as a member of the administrative committee. During a late afternoon hearing, Justice Michael McDonald said each member of the committee should have been named as defendants. "You have come to this court half-baked, you have failed to name the proper defendants," he told barrister Cam Truong KC, acting on behalf of Ms Harkin. "It doesn't get much worse." Justice McDonald said the $1.55 million loan had already been transferred to Mrs Deeming's lawyers and questioned why lawyers had triggered an out-of-hours court hearing. He told the court he could not see "any urgency in this matter" and the case was adjourned to July 4. "The application doesn't get off the runway today," Justice McDonald told the court. Mr Truong did not accept the case was brought improperly as he said the case was filed before the money was transferred. He asked for at least a week to serve all committee members who are now set to be included in the challenge. Daryl Williams KC, who represented three of the named defendants, questioned the timing of the case during the hearing. "Why on earth are we here today when this decision of the admin committee, which by the way my clients had nothing to do with, was made a week ago," he said. If Mr Pesutto is declared bankrupt it would trigger his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn. The payment deadline is Friday. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted in favour of the loan, which must be repaid by Mr Pesutto at market-rate interest, and called for colleagues to drawn a line under the long-running feud. Mrs Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore but welcomed back in December as Mr Pesutto lost the leadership. She offered to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for her guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years, but the deal fell over. Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto were contacted for comment. A judge has hit out at a "half-baked" legal attempt to stop a $1.55 million Liberal loan to save the political future of its former leader. The legal challenge came after the Victorian Liberals' administrative committee decided to lend former leader John Pesutto money to settle his outstanding defamation debt to MP Moira Deeming. Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. He coughed up $315,000 in damages and raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign, with the remaining $1.55 million leaving him facing bankruptcy. Legal documents filed with the Supreme Court on Thursday sought to block the loan on the grounds it potentially breaches party rules, naming party entity Vapold as a defendant. It was brought by Colleen Harkin, named in the documents as a member of the administrative committee. During a late afternoon hearing, Justice Michael McDonald said each member of the committee should have been named as defendants. "You have come to this court half-baked, you have failed to name the proper defendants," he told barrister Cam Truong KC, acting on behalf of Ms Harkin. "It doesn't get much worse." Justice McDonald said the $1.55 million loan had already been transferred to Mrs Deeming's lawyers and questioned why lawyers had triggered an out-of-hours court hearing. He told the court he could not see "any urgency in this matter" and the case was adjourned to July 4. "The application doesn't get off the runway today," Justice McDonald told the court. Mr Truong did not accept the case was brought improperly as he said the case was filed before the money was transferred. He asked for at least a week to serve all committee members who are now set to be included in the challenge. Daryl Williams KC, who represented three of the named defendants, questioned the timing of the case during the hearing. "Why on earth are we here today when this decision of the admin committee, which by the way my clients had nothing to do with, was made a week ago," he said. If Mr Pesutto is declared bankrupt it would trigger his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn. The payment deadline is Friday. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted in favour of the loan, which must be repaid by Mr Pesutto at market-rate interest, and called for colleagues to drawn a line under the long-running feud. Mrs Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore but welcomed back in December as Mr Pesutto lost the leadership. She offered to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for her guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years, but the deal fell over. Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto were contacted for comment. A judge has hit out at a "half-baked" legal attempt to stop a $1.55 million Liberal loan to save the political future of its former leader. The legal challenge came after the Victorian Liberals' administrative committee decided to lend former leader John Pesutto money to settle his outstanding defamation debt to MP Moira Deeming. Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. He coughed up $315,000 in damages and raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign, with the remaining $1.55 million leaving him facing bankruptcy. Legal documents filed with the Supreme Court on Thursday sought to block the loan on the grounds it potentially breaches party rules, naming party entity Vapold as a defendant. It was brought by Colleen Harkin, named in the documents as a member of the administrative committee. During a late afternoon hearing, Justice Michael McDonald said each member of the committee should have been named as defendants. "You have come to this court half-baked, you have failed to name the proper defendants," he told barrister Cam Truong KC, acting on behalf of Ms Harkin. "It doesn't get much worse." Justice McDonald said the $1.55 million loan had already been transferred to Mrs Deeming's lawyers and questioned why lawyers had triggered an out-of-hours court hearing. He told the court he could not see "any urgency in this matter" and the case was adjourned to July 4. "The application doesn't get off the runway today," Justice McDonald told the court. Mr Truong did not accept the case was brought improperly as he said the case was filed before the money was transferred. He asked for at least a week to serve all committee members who are now set to be included in the challenge. Daryl Williams KC, who represented three of the named defendants, questioned the timing of the case during the hearing. "Why on earth are we here today when this decision of the admin committee, which by the way my clients had nothing to do with, was made a week ago," he said. If Mr Pesutto is declared bankrupt it would trigger his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn. The payment deadline is Friday. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted in favour of the loan, which must be repaid by Mr Pesutto at market-rate interest, and called for colleagues to drawn a line under the long-running feud. Mrs Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore but welcomed back in December as Mr Pesutto lost the leadership. She offered to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for her guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years, but the deal fell over. Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto were contacted for comment. A judge has hit out at a "half-baked" legal attempt to stop a $1.55 million Liberal loan to save the political future of its former leader. The legal challenge came after the Victorian Liberals' administrative committee decided to lend former leader John Pesutto money to settle his outstanding defamation debt to MP Moira Deeming. Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. He coughed up $315,000 in damages and raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign, with the remaining $1.55 million leaving him facing bankruptcy. Legal documents filed with the Supreme Court on Thursday sought to block the loan on the grounds it potentially breaches party rules, naming party entity Vapold as a defendant. It was brought by Colleen Harkin, named in the documents as a member of the administrative committee. During a late afternoon hearing, Justice Michael McDonald said each member of the committee should have been named as defendants. "You have come to this court half-baked, you have failed to name the proper defendants," he told barrister Cam Truong KC, acting on behalf of Ms Harkin. "It doesn't get much worse." Justice McDonald said the $1.55 million loan had already been transferred to Mrs Deeming's lawyers and questioned why lawyers had triggered an out-of-hours court hearing. He told the court he could not see "any urgency in this matter" and the case was adjourned to July 4. "The application doesn't get off the runway today," Justice McDonald told the court. Mr Truong did not accept the case was brought improperly as he said the case was filed before the money was transferred. He asked for at least a week to serve all committee members who are now set to be included in the challenge. Daryl Williams KC, who represented three of the named defendants, questioned the timing of the case during the hearing. "Why on earth are we here today when this decision of the admin committee, which by the way my clients had nothing to do with, was made a week ago," he said. If Mr Pesutto is declared bankrupt it would trigger his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn. The payment deadline is Friday. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted in favour of the loan, which must be repaid by Mr Pesutto at market-rate interest, and called for colleagues to drawn a line under the long-running feud. Mrs Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore but welcomed back in December as Mr Pesutto lost the leadership. She offered to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for her guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years, but the deal fell over. Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto were contacted for comment.
The Advertiser
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Legal challenge looms over $1.55m Liberal party loan
A legal challenge is looming over a state Liberal party's $1.55 million loan to save a former leader's political career. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee last week agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle his debt to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid. The payment deadline is Friday. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. A Liberal source with knowledge of the situation confirmed on Thursday that the $2.3 million had been transferred to Mrs Deeming's lawyers, including the $1.55 million loan from party entity Vapold. However, a hearing to block the loan on the grounds it potentially breaches party rules has been listed for the Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon. Documents connected to the proceedings are yet to be filed with the court. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted in favour of the loan, which must be repaid by Mr Pesutto at market-rate interest, and called for colleagues to drawn a line under the long-running feud. Mrs Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore but welcomed back in December as Mr Pesutto lost the leadership. She offered to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for her guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years, but the deal fell over. Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto were contacted for comment. A legal challenge is looming over a state Liberal party's $1.55 million loan to save a former leader's political career. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee last week agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle his debt to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid. The payment deadline is Friday. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. A Liberal source with knowledge of the situation confirmed on Thursday that the $2.3 million had been transferred to Mrs Deeming's lawyers, including the $1.55 million loan from party entity Vapold. However, a hearing to block the loan on the grounds it potentially breaches party rules has been listed for the Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon. Documents connected to the proceedings are yet to be filed with the court. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted in favour of the loan, which must be repaid by Mr Pesutto at market-rate interest, and called for colleagues to drawn a line under the long-running feud. Mrs Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore but welcomed back in December as Mr Pesutto lost the leadership. She offered to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for her guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years, but the deal fell over. Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto were contacted for comment. A legal challenge is looming over a state Liberal party's $1.55 million loan to save a former leader's political career. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee last week agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle his debt to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid. The payment deadline is Friday. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. A Liberal source with knowledge of the situation confirmed on Thursday that the $2.3 million had been transferred to Mrs Deeming's lawyers, including the $1.55 million loan from party entity Vapold. However, a hearing to block the loan on the grounds it potentially breaches party rules has been listed for the Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon. Documents connected to the proceedings are yet to be filed with the court. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted in favour of the loan, which must be repaid by Mr Pesutto at market-rate interest, and called for colleagues to drawn a line under the long-running feud. Mrs Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore but welcomed back in December as Mr Pesutto lost the leadership. She offered to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for her guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years, but the deal fell over. Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto were contacted for comment. A legal challenge is looming over a state Liberal party's $1.55 million loan to save a former leader's political career. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee last week agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle his debt to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid. The payment deadline is Friday. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. A Liberal source with knowledge of the situation confirmed on Thursday that the $2.3 million had been transferred to Mrs Deeming's lawyers, including the $1.55 million loan from party entity Vapold. However, a hearing to block the loan on the grounds it potentially breaches party rules has been listed for the Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon. Documents connected to the proceedings are yet to be filed with the court. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted in favour of the loan, which must be repaid by Mr Pesutto at market-rate interest, and called for colleagues to drawn a line under the long-running feud. Mrs Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore but welcomed back in December as Mr Pesutto lost the leadership. She offered to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for her guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years, but the deal fell over. Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto were contacted for comment.
Sky News AU
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Ex-Victoria Liberal leader John Pesutto pays $2.3m Moira Deeming legal bill, avoids bankruptcy
Embattled former Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto has avoided bankruptcy after paying out $2.3m to fellow Liberal parliamentarian Moira Deeming. Mr Pesutto was hit with the whopping legal bill following a high-stakes defamation battle with Ms Deeming in the Federal Court. Mr Pesutto defamed Ms Deeming in radio interviews, a press conference and in Liberal Party documents by conveying she knowingly associated, or sympathised, with neo-Nazis and white supremacists after she attended a women's rights rally critical of transgender beliefs in 2023. Justice O'Callaghan ordered Mr Pesutto to pay $300,000 in damages, and then in March this year, the court ordered him to pay a further $2.3m to cover Ms Deeming's legal costs. Mr Pesutto was unable to meet the bill on his own and faced the prospect of bankruptcy. But in recent weeks he secured a $1.5m loan from the Liberal Party and on Thursday, Sky News reported Mr Pesutto had settled his bill. The deadline for settlement to avoid bankruptcy was Friday. The loan is controversial and some Liberal members had threatened legal action to stop the Party from lending Mr Pesutto the money, but the payment pre-empts that challenge. Mr Pesutto had raised some $770,000 on his own account to meet the bill. The payment stops a by-election for Mr Pesutto's marginal inner-eastern Melbourne seat of Hawthorn, which he won in 2022 with 51.7 per cent of the vote after preferences. Victorian law prohibits bankrupted persons from serving in the parliament. Ms Deeming has been contacted for comment. The Deeming-Pesutto furore kicked off after Ms Deeming, a former schoolteacher, attended a Let Women Speak rally in Melbourne in 2023 hosted by British women's rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen, also known as Posie Parker. The Deeming-Pesutto furore kicked off after Ms Deeming, a former schoolteacher and Liberal member of parliament, attended a Let Women Speak rally in Melbourne in 2023 hosted by British women's rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen, also known as Posie Parker. Ms Deeming was thrown out of the Liberal Party room after the rally and launched court action against Mr Pesutto on December 5, 2023. Top defamation barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC represented Ms Deeming throughout proceedings. The costs order revealed Ms Deeming paid Ms Chrysanthou $800 an hour for preparation, conferences, other attendances, advice and travelling time, $8000 per day in court with a minimum appearance fee of $4000 if the matter concluded before 1pm and a minimum appearance fee of $800 for short appearances. 'This judgment is a public acknowledgment that there was never any justification – legal, moral or political – for what the Opposition Leader (Pesutto) did to me and to my family,' Ms Deeming said after the ruling. 'The organisers and attendees of the 2023 Melbourne Let Women Speak rally did nothing wrong and it is shameful that they were treated without fairness or respect by so many in public office. 'This judgment is a public acknowledgment that there was never any justification – legal, moral or political – for what the Opposition Leader (Pesutto) did to me and to my family,' Ms Deeming said after the ruling. 'The organisers and attendees of the 2023 Melbourne Let Women Speak rally did nothing wrong and it is shameful that they were treated without fairness or respect by so many in public office. Originally published as Former Liberal leader John Pesutto pays Moira Deeming $2.3m
Perth Now
26-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Legal challenge looms over $1.55m Liberal party loan
A legal challenge is looming over a state Liberal party's $1.55 million loan to save a former leader's political career. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee last week agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle his debt to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid. The payment deadline is Friday. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. A Liberal source with knowledge of the situation confirmed on Thursday that the $2.3 million had been transferred to Mrs Deeming's lawyers, including the $1.55 million loan from party entity Vapold. However, a hearing to block the loan on the grounds it potentially breaches party rules has been listed for the Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon. Documents connected to the proceedings are yet to be filed with the court. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted in favour of the loan, which must be repaid by Mr Pesutto at market-rate interest, and called for colleagues to drawn a line under the long-running feud. Mrs Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore but welcomed back in December as Mr Pesutto lost the leadership. She offered to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for her guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years, but the deal fell over. Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto were contacted for comment.
