Brad Battin to become Victorian Liberal leader as John Pesutto ousted
John Pesutto will step down as Victoria’s opposition leader and exiled MP Moira Deeming will be readmitted to the parliamentary wing of the Liberal Party following a party room showdown.
Berwick MP Brad Battin will replace Pesutto after emerging victorious in today’s leadership vote.
Former tennis star Sam Groth will become the deputy Liberal leader.
Brad Battin will be the new leader of the Victorian Liberals, with Sam Groth (rear left) to be his deputy. (Eddie Jim)
Battin defeated Kew MP Jess Wilson and Mornington MP Chris Crewther, who both threw their hats in the ring for the top job.
However, in an extraordinary backflip, Pesutto had issued a statement yesterday calling for another meeting on January 15 to “discuss and vote on a motion” to readmit Deeming to the parliamentary Liberal Party.
Today, Deeming was voted back in by her colleagues, 23 votes to four.
John Pesutto arrives at parliament before the meeting to oust him. (Luis Enrique Ascui/The Age)Moira Deeming sued her leader John Pesutto for defamation – and won. After being exiled from the party, she was today readmitted. (Joe Armao)
On December 11, Deeming won her case against Pesutto, with the Federal Court ruling that he had defamed her during a series of media appearances and in a party expulsion motion.
The judge found that Pesutto had implied Deeming was unfit to remain in the parliamentary Liberal Party.
