Witnesses finished giving evidence on Friday,but the hearings didn’t end without drama.
John Pesutto has just 11 days to quell the disunity that has overtaken the state Liberal Party as a result of numerous revelations from his defamation trial.
In audio played to the Federal Court,Opposition Leader John Pesutto is heard opening a meeting by saying:“We’ve got a huge problem.”
Opposition Leader John Pesutto says he “absolutely” trusts David Southwick,who told the Federal Court he secretly recorded an internal meeting as an “insurance policy” because he could no longer trust Moira Deeming.
A former Liberal MP says he was warned on his first day in parliament that conversations in the party were often “surreptitiously” recorded,as leader John Pesutto moved to reassure Victorians that his position was safe.
A colour-coded spreadsheet made by John Pesutto’s staff catalogues how every Victorian Liberal MP was expected to vote on a motion to expel Moira Deeming from the party room.
The Liberal leader is battling two realities – a father of three fighting a costly defamation suit versus the senior politician trying to hang on to his job. It’s possible even if he wins,he loses.
Kim was double-crossed by John. John can’t stand Katherine. Louise wanted Moira gone,as did Matthew. And everyone’s angry with David. No,this is not Married at First Sight.
Opposition Leader John Pesutto also conceded he’d drafted a statement on a possible resignation for Moira Deeming hours before she was brought in to explain her actions to the leadership team.
Liberal leader John Pesutto was forced to defend a dossier compiled to justify Moira Deeming’s expulsion from the party room – a document likened in court to something “prepared by an eight-year-old”.
Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto has started giving evidence in the defamation trial ousted MP Moira Deeming launched against him.