Liberal Party members seek court challenge against Pesutto's bailout
A group of Liberals have launched a court challenge to John Pesutto's loan from the party, which not long ago was adjourned until next week.
The former Victorian Liberal leader appears to have avoided bankruptcy after his $2.3 million debt was paid to Moira Deeming on Thursday morning despite the pending legal challenge.
The last-minute court action was lodged to stop the $1.55 million loaned to John Pesutto – which was paid by the Victorian Liberal Party.
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Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Liberal Party members seek court challenge against Pesutto's bailout
A group of Liberals have launched a court challenge to John Pesutto's loan from the party, which not long ago was adjourned until next week. The former Victorian Liberal leader appears to have avoided bankruptcy after his $2.3 million debt was paid to Moira Deeming on Thursday morning despite the pending legal challenge. The last-minute court action was lodged to stop the $1.55 million loaned to John Pesutto – which was paid by the Victorian Liberal Party.
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
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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.
7NEWS
8 hours ago
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Independent Tasmanian MP Craig Garland pleads guilty to driving while under the influence of cannabis
An independent politician who has 'smoked for quite a long time' has pleaded guilty to drug driving after failing a roadside test on a fishing trip. Craig Garland was elected to Tasmania's parliament in March 2024 and has held a crucial balance-of-power position on the crossbench. He is campaigning for re-election at the July 19 snap election, which was triggered after a no-confidence motion passed against the state's minority Liberal premier. The 60-year-old appeared in Burnie Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with driving a motor vehicle while a prescribed illicit drug was present in his oral fluid. It related to a positive test in early November in the state's northwest. Garland pleaded guilty and will next face court for sentencing on September 15. He previously told AAP he returned a positive result from a tongue-scrape test on his way to go fishing after smoking cannabis the night prior. He said he used cannabis on-and-off for pain relief, particularly for the ongoing effects of a broken leg, but didn't have a medical prescription. 'I've smoked for quite a long time. I didn't leave it long enough before I drove but I didn't think it would be a problem,' he said in November. 'I'm not driving around whacked up or pissed (drunk). I guess you put it down to bad timing and bad management. 'I don't consider it impairing at all. It might be if you sit there and have 40 cones and whack a few beers in, but not if you're having a little one ... every now and then.' Garland, a former commercial fisherman who has voiced opposition to industrial salmon farming, has campaigned on a shoe-string budget. He previously said the charge was unlikely to be a big issue for his supporters. Garland, who supported the no-confidence motion against the premier, could again hold a powerful crossbench position after the July 19 election. Opinion polling suggests the Liberals and Labor face an uphill battle to win enough seats to form majority government.
