‘The entire party is imploding': Groth, Pesutto, Deeming turning Liberal headache into a migraine
Opposition Leader Brad Battin has acknowledged tensions in his party room as former leader John Pesutto prepares to be served bankruptcy proceedings by Liberal colleague Moira Deeming.
Battin was also forced to defend his deputy, Sam Groth, on Friday over reports Groth had misled opposition frontbencher Georgie Crozier to access her chauffeur-driven car after a fundraiser at the Australian Open last year.
The Herald Sun on Friday reported Groth had asked to borrow Crozier's driver for work reasons but used the car to get home to Rye after a fundraiser at the tennis.
Crozier, who was leader of the opposition in the upper house at the time, told reporters on Friday that she wanted answers.
'I'm incredibly disappointed,' Crozier said outside the opposition's budget reply lunch. 'Sam needs to explain his actions.'
Groth, the opposition's spokesman for tourism, sport, events and hospitality, said he attended the 2024 Australian Open in both an official and personal capacity.
'I was at the event to meet various stakeholders and attend meetings before being part of a fundraising initiative,' Groth said in a statement on Friday.
'Everything was and is above board. It has all been officially disclosed. There is nothing to hide.'
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