Expelled Liberal MP Moira Deeming’s defamation showdown with Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto is about to reach its final chapter after a two-year stoush.
Justice David O’Callaghan will deliver his judgment for the matter in Melbourne’s Federal Court on Thursday following an earlier three-and-a-half-week trial.
Mrs Deeming alleges Mr Pesutto defamed her by suggesting or implying she was a Nazi or Nazi sympathiser following a Let Women Speak rally in Melbourne in March 2023, a claim he denies.
Moira Deeming was recorded saying she does not hold “homophobic or transphobic views”. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
The trans-critical event, which Mrs Deeming addressed and helped organise, was attended by men in black who performed the Nazi salute on the steps of state parliament.
The now-independent MP told the court those men had nothing to do with her rally.
The mother of four says she supports “sex-based rights” and was heard in court saying on a tape she does not hold “homophobic or transphobic views”.
Her barrister alleged Mr Pesutto used the appearance of Nazis as a “pretext to just get rid of her”, claiming he was concerned her statements on sex-based rights would distract from his political agenda.
However, Mr Pesutto’s barrister said allegations about the motivation behind efforts to expel her were false and had “nothing to do with Mrs Deeming’s views”.
John Pesutto could face another leadership challenge depending on the judgment. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
The legal battle caused Mr Pesutto to stare down a possible leadership coup earlier in October, with rumblings attributed to the defamation case.
Internal detractors sought to evict him from the party’s top job by working the phones to garner support for a motion to spill the leadership team at a partyroom meeting.
Emerging from the meeting, Mr Pesutto confirmed no spill motion was put to the room after the group was unable to agree on a replacement candidate.
Mr Pesutto could face another leadership challenge depending on Thursday’s outcome.
Mrs Deeming was initially suspended from the Liberals in March 2023 then expelled two months later.