Victorian Liberal Leader John Pesutto says he'll follow the party line on Friday when the Liberals meet to decide whether to reintegrate ousted MP Moira Deeming into the party.Five Liberal MPs yesterday signed a motion calling for Deeming to be reinstated to the party's parliamentary wing.It came days after a judge found she was defamed by Pesutto on several occasions following her attendance at a Let Women Speak rally in March 2023.
Pesutto has previously said he would not personally support Deeming's return, but that it would be a whole-party decision should the suggestion come up. (Nine)Co-signed by Liberal MPs Bill Tilley, Richard Riordan, Renee Heath, Joe McCracken and Chris Crewther, the motion stated it was "simply a matter of fairness" that Deeming return to the party.Pesutto has previously said he would not personally support Deeming's return, but that it would be a whole-party decision should the suggestion come up.Speaking to media today, Pesutto said he would honour the party's vote, but was reluctant to touch on9news why he doesn't want the exiled MP back."I am always a servant of the party I've been a member of for over 30 years, and whatever the party room decides, I will honour with full passion," Pesutto said.
Five Liberal MPs yesterday signed a motion calling for Deeming to be reinstated to the party's parliamentary wing. (Joe Armao)Friday's crucial party room meeting will be a major test for Pesutto after his decision not to stand down as leader led Liberal MP Sam Groth to resign from his shadow ministries last week.Deeming was exiled from the party room last May after threatening to sue party leader John Pesutto.She last week told reporters she "still believed" in the Liberal Party and had "every right" to return."I have every right to be there, I did nothing wrong," she said."All the accusations that were made about me, they were just disproven in court."
