Moira Deeming offered John Pesutto chance to avoid bankruptcy on condition Liberal party assured her preselection
Moria Deeming offered John Pesutto a chance to avoid bankruptcy and delay payment of $2.3m in legal costs until 2027 on the condition her pre-selection for the next election be assured by the Liberal party.
The upper house MP commenced bankruptcy proceedings earlier this month after the former Liberal leader failed to pay the costs ordered by the federal court in May. The court found Pesutto repeatedly defamed Deeming by falsely implying she sympathised with neo-Nazis and white supremacists.
On Sunday, Deeming wrote to Pesutto with a last minute offer to resolve a damaging saga for the party. The offer was also addressed to the party's president, Philip Davis and the Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin. Federal Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Victorian frontbencher Dan Tehan were also copied into correspondence.
The offer was not accepted before the 5pm Tuesday deadline as the Liberal party did not agree to its terms.
Deeming told the senior figures she was dismayed by reports the state party was considering loaning its own funds to Pesutto to help him pay her legal fees and avoid bankruptcy, which would trigger a byelection in his seat of Hawthorn.
'From the outset, both former president Greg Mirabella and incumbent Philip Davis publicly stated that no party funds would be used in this action and to now expect the party to cover Pesutto's substantial debts goes against the grain of everything we believe as Liberals,' Deeming wrote.
Deeming's offer to grant Pesutto more time to pay her legal costs came with five conditions, including that her preselection for the seat of western metropolitan is endorsed by a special resolution however described in constitutional terms'.
She said this was necessary 'so that I enjoy the right to serve my community without any internal distractions, which is something denied to me to date'.
Preselections for the upcoming 2026 state election are expected to begin later this year and Liberal party sources expect Deeming would face a challenge for the top spot of the western metropolitan ticket.
One party source in the region has told Guardian Australia just three of the 11 local branches that make up her seat support Deeming. They said membership numbers in the region since 2022 had increased just enough to tilt the balance in a challenge's favour.
'She doesn't have the local numbers to secure preselection,' they said.
It's possible the party's administrative committee takes charge of some preselections. But two other Liberal sources have said Battin would not want to intervene.
'He's fed up with the entire situation,' a party executive said.
'If Moira doesn't have the numbers, she's gone. He's not going to step in to help her. He just wants the membership to decide.'
In the letter, Deeming also asked the Liberal party 'to provide me and my family an unreserved written and public apology for the way I have been treated, for the imputations against my reputation, and that all the false allegations and defamatory slurs directed towards me are rejected'. Deeming wanted the apology to come from Battin.
She wanted Pesutto to pay all money raised so far to pay her costs – reportedly more than $1m – to be paid to her now with the rest due by 30 March 2027.
She also urged the Liberal party to appoint an independent person from outside Victoria, such as a former judge, to conduct a review of the party's complaint resolution process.
Finally, she asked 'all parties draw a line under the events of the past two years and ensure our focus is on the constituents we serve, the party we love and the people of Victoria'.
'I also want to respect the donors who have supported our cause in their hope that a good government can once again return to the state we love under the leadership of Mr Battin, whom I am deeply committed to and support as his representative in western metropolitan'.
Deeming was contacted for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Unbelievable feud breaks out over VERY trivial footpath matter in ritzy suburb
Advertisement-plastered bus stops have caused some of Australia's most well-off residents to melt down. Locals in Sydney 's Rose Bay have exploded at their council for installing more than 30 new bus stop shelters around the suburb. The shelters in themselves don't seem to be the problem, however, rather locals have taken issue with the 'giant advertising screen' featured on the side of each one. The large advertisements detract from the natural beauty of the suburb's promenade, argued Deanna Mastellone on Facebook. 'It is absolutely ridiculous. Woollahra Council placing this giant advertising screen outside the Wintergarden, blocking this very busy footpath which is enjoyed by so many,' she said. But Woollahra Council defended its decision to place the money-spinning ads across every bus shelter in the district. A spokesperson for the council said the revenue it raised from these ads helps pay for vital services that assist the entire community. The eye-sores incited a lively debate online where locals offered various takes on the matter. Ms Mastellone vowed to have the issue 'corrected' and had a particular problem with the fact that nobody in Rose Bay was even consulted prior to the rollout. 'It is an absolute disgrace Woollahra Council has signed up for 39 advertising bus shelters with zero community consultation,' she wrote. 'Such an ugly blight on our magnificent Rose Bay Promenade. 'This will be corrected, this is so very wrong.' Ms Mastellone compared her suburb to others in the city's east like Balmoral Beach, which has no bus shelter ads, and Mosman Council which has 22. Before installing its ads Mosman Council at least 'engaged with the entire community', Ms Mastellone said. The ticked-off local even filed a complaint with Woollahra Council's Audit, Risk and Innovation external committee in her quest to have the shelters' ads removed. 'I am not against bus shelters, we must protect and preserve our streetscape and ensure all the community is engaged in the placement of them,' she wrote. Those who chimed into the debate had mixed opinions with some agreeing, but others claiming Ms Mastellone was making a fuss over nothing. 'Rain protection and advertising revenue to keep your council rates lower. What's the issue?' one said. 'Perhaps think of the seniors waiting for a bus who appreciate having somewhere to sit while they wait,' another wrote. Those who did agree with Ms Mastellone found even more reasons to complain. 'No proper access for wheelchairs and mobility aids to pass by and no alerts for vision-impaired members of the community to safely navigate around,' one said. 'These are disgusting eyesores around Rose Bay, I agree,' a second agreed. But despite all the upraor, Woollahra Council said the shelters were here to stay. 'They provide excellent shelter and shade for commuters,' a spokesperson told Yahoo News. 'Each site was assessed to ensure the shelters were placed safely and appropriately and notifications were issued to nearby residents and businesses, providing opportunity for feedback.'
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Trump to review Aukus nuclear submarine pact with Australia and UK
The US is reviewing the Aukus nuclear submarine deal with the UK and Australia to assess whether it aligns with Donald Trump 's 'America First' agenda, casting doubt on the trilateral agreement aimed at countering China. A Pentagon official said the 2021 deal was being reviewed to ensure it 'aligned with the president's America First agenda' ahead of his talks with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese at the upcoming G7 summit in Canada. The £176bn Aukus agreement involving Australia, the US and the UK is a strategic security partnership aimed primarily at helping Australia acquire nuclear submarines using American and British technology, marking a major advancement in the country's military capabilities. Australian defence minister Richard Marles said on Thursday Canberra was confident the pact would proceed and that their government would closely work with the Trump administration. 'I am very confident this is going to happen,' he told ABC News, adding that Aukus was in the strategic interests of all three countries. He claimed that a review of the deal signed under former US president Joe Biden was not a surprise. 'This is a multi-decade plan,' he said. 'There will be governments that come and go, and I think whenever we see a new government a review of this kind is going to be something which will be undertaken.' The statement came after media reports said the US was reviewing its commitment to the pact. It was first reported by the Financial Times, citing six people familiar with the matter. 'The department is reviewing Aukus as part of ensuring that this initiative of the previous administration is aligned with the president's 'America first' agenda,' a Pentagon official was quoted as saying. 'This means ensuring the highest readiness of our service members, that allies step up fully to do their part for collective defence and that the defence industrial base is meeting our needs.' The Pentagon's top policy adviser, Elbridge Colby, who has previously raised concerns that the US could lose submarines to Australia at a critical time for military deterrence against China, will be a key figure in the review, examining the production rate of Virginia-class submarines, Mr Marles confirmed. Australia and the UK have both faced pressure from the White House to increase their military spending. While the UK has heeded the demand, Australia has resisted it. Mr Albanese is expected to meet Mr Trump for the first time next week on the sidelines of the G7 meeting. They are likely to discuss Washington's demand that Australia increase its defence spending from 2 to 3.5 per cent of its GDP. Mr Albanese has said Australia's defence spending will rise to 2.3 per cent but has declined to commit to America's target. The possibility of the deal collapsing has caused anxiety in London and Canberra but has been met with cheers in Beijing, experts said. John Lee, an Indo-Pacific expert at Washington's conservative Hudson Institute think tank, said the Pentagon review was 'primarily an audit of American capability' and whether it could afford to sell up to five nuclear submarines when it wasn't meeting its own production targets. 'Relatedly, the low Australian defence spending and ambiguity as to how it might contribute to a Taiwan contingency is also a factor,' Mr Lee said. John Hamre, president of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and a former senior Pentagon official, told a Lowy Institute seminar in Sydney on Thursday there was a perception in Washington that 'the Albanese government has been supportive of Aukus but not really leaning in on Aukus ', with defence spending being part of this.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Laura Tingle's replacement on 7.30 officially announced as surprise pick is slated to take the coveted gig
The man set to replace Laura Tingle on ABC's current affairs program 7.30 has been officially announced. ABC political correspondent Jacob Greber will step into the coveted role of political correspondent, after rumours swirled for weeks that the journalist was the surprise pick for the gig. The announcement was made by 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson during Thursday night's show. 'I'd like to introduce my next guest, who is not really a guest at all. With an almost 30-year career in journalism covering politics, economics, and world affairs – all the things that we want,' Ferguson said. 'He's been a foreign correspondent as well and got a start working as a copy boy in the Canberra Press Gallery. You can't beat that.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Greber, who joined the ABC less than a year ago amid a lauded career in journalism, will step into the role from July 7. 'It's an incredible time to join 7.30 with Sarah Ferguson and the team. Our audience rightly demands clarity and insight about the people who govern us and the challenges we face as a nation,' Greber said. 'I also salute Laura Tingle – an absolute class act and fearless force of nature. I'm humbled and thrilled to pick up where she's left off.' Greber will fill the gap left when Tingle announced earlier this month she would replace John Lyons as the broadcaster's outgoing global affairs editor. Earlier rumblings suggested the role might have gone to any number of Canberra bureau insiders including chief David Lipson, national affairs editor Melissa Clark and Insiders host David Speers. Q+A host Patricia Karvelas and ABC Radio Melbourne host Raf Epstein ruled themselves out of the running when contacted by the Herald. Tingle, a double Walkley-Award-winning political journalist, will start new position mid-year while Lyons packs up to become the ABC's Americas editor. Among the nation's best respected political journalists with more than 40 years experience including six years in her latest post, Tingle leaves big shoes to fill. 'The job was advertised, and I applied for it,' Tingle told The Australian last week. 'It's the best job in journalism, I reckon, other than the one I have already got.' A fellow Financial Review alum, Tingle will spend the next two years travelling the world reporting on events 'that also shape our nation'. Despite publicly advertising its shift away from television towards digital, the flagship promise of former managing director David Anderson's five-year-plan, 7.30 remains the jewel in the broadcaster's crown. Presented by former Four Corners host Sarah Ferguson, the program boasted an average nightly viewership of 756,000 in the 2023-24 financial year according to ABC's annual reporting. A dip from Covid-era highs of the three previous fiscal years, the program nonetheless retained its popularity, despite fears of a fallout following the 2022 departure of the inaugural presenter Leigh Sales. Despite being lesser known than Karvelas or Speers, Greber would bring decades of broadcast and print experience and some cachet as a reliable face on News Breakfast, Insiders, Afternoon Briefing, Weekend Breakfast and, of course, 7.30. The more front-facing role brings with it a greater possibility for controversy of the brand Tingle has found herself mired in in recent years. Last year, she was accused of dropping the veil of journalistic impartiality when she accused then Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of stoking racism by raising immigration caps as a possible salve for the housing crisis. She said Mr Dutton's rhetoric had sent a 'terrible chill running through me' before, at the same Sydney Writers Festival event, describing Australia as 'a racist country'. ABC news director Justin Stevens later said Tingle's comments, albeit not made in a work capacity, had prompted the broadcaster to remind her of the 'application' of her 'conversational' rhetoric to 'external events'. Before Tingle's six-year stint on 7.30, the coveted role was something of a hot potato having passed through the hands of four presenters in the six years between 2012 and 2018. She replaced Andrew Probyn who was more recently made redundant as the broadcaster's political editor in 2023. Internal ABC documents reportedly said the move was part of a calculated efforts to reform the Canberra bureau's 'outdated, top-heavy structure still largely focused on linear television broadcast'. Greber's appointment to the newly-minted role of chief digital political correspondent was widely considered a de facto planting of the flag in the broadcaster's 'digital-first' strategy.
