Liberal MP Moira Deeming says she may pursue John Pesutto's financial backers for court costs
Liberal MP Moira Deeming says she will pursue senior Victorian Liberal figures to help recover $2.3 million in legal costs if John Pesutto cannot pay.
Ms Deeming successfully sued the former Victorian Liberal leader for defamation after he moved to expel her from the party room in 2023 after she attended an anti-trans-rights rally that was gatecrashed by Neo-Nazis.
Earlier this month, Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay more than $2.3 million in costs to Ms Deeming.
It's understood he's unable to pay the costs order or his own legal bills, and has been seeking loans from Liberal powerbrokers to fend off bankruptcy.
The Australian newspaper on Wednesday reported Ms Deeming's legal team had written to Mr Pesutto's lawyers seeking information about some of his high-profile donors.
Ms Deeming told the ABC the letter was sent to understand who had financially backed Mr Pesutto during their defamation battle, because she "may have to seek cost recovery through them".
Former premiers Jeff Kennett and Ted Baillieu are among the Liberal faithful who have chipped in to help save Mr Pesutto's political career.
Both declined to comment to the ABC.
In a statement this morning, Ms Deeming said she had not yet launched any lawsuits against anyone other than Mr Pesutto.
"The letter simply seeks to understand who aided him [to run the case]," she said.
"Being a lawyer, John knew better than anyone, the legal and financial risks in refusing to apologise and retract his defamatory claims against me.
"His defences failed, I won my case and he agreed to pay my costs last year."
The legal stoush was prompted by Ms Deeming's attendance at a Let Women Speak rally at state parliament in March 2023.
The event, categorised by supporters as a women's rights event, featured UK anti-trans-rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen. Ms Deeming was also involved in organising the rally.
Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the idea of potential further legal action by Ms Deeming on three former Liberal premiers was a "distraction".
"I would love to see this whole matter resolved," he told ABC Radio Melbourne on Wednesday.
Mr Battin would not be drawn on questions about what he could do to resolve the saga.
"I'll continue to have discussions internally with my colleagues, with the party and whoever else I'm required to, but at the end of the day … those conversations will remain confidential," he said.
"It is frustrating because it's not a topic that I think most Victorians at home want us talking about."
Senior Liberals have told the ABC they are furious with Mr Battin over his handling of the situation.
Some say his lack of action to try and broker a deal to avoid a by-election was damaging the party and his leadership.
If Mr Pesutto declared bankruptcy he would be forced from parliament, and there is no guarantee the Liberals would retain his Hawthorn seat in a by-election.
Earlier this year, Mr Battin appointed Ms Deeming as his special representative in the western suburbs, infuriating colleagues.
Mr Pesutto declined to comment.
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