Moira Deeming's candidacy for the Liberal Party blocked by John Pesutto

Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto narrowly rebuffed efforts by his political foe Moira Deeming to return to the ranks, but that did not silence the agitators.

It took more than an hour for 28 lawmakers to craft a motion authorizing Deeming’s reinstatement after and ordered him to pay $315,632 in damages plus costs.

The Upper House MP for his first term was expelled from the parliamentary party in March 2023, it was invaded by neo-Nazis.

“That seals the deal,” Pesutto told reporters Friday after the party room motion failed in a split vote of 14 votes on both sides.

While the opposition leader used his casting vote, Pesutto said that technically this was not necessary as the motion required an “absolute majority” of 16 out of 30 members to pass under the party’s constitution .

Two Liberal MPs, Cindy McLeish and Nick McGowan, were absent.

A man in a suit speaks at a press conference with another man standing behind him.

Pesutto said the failed vote marked the end of the matter. Source: PAA / James Ross

Pesutto and his allies appeared dejected as they left the meeting, but he denied being shocked by the closeness of the result and said it was not a “slap in the face” to his leadership.

“Today it was always announced that we would eventually revisit the issue,” he said.

“It has been revisited and today marks the end of that discussion.”

But Deeming argued that Pesutto had indeed voted twice despite a “significant personal conflict of interest” in the outcome and said it was “only a matter of time” before she returned to the voting hall. holidays.

“Unfortunately, as has been the case all along, John Pesutto’s inability to admit his mistakes speaks volumes about his character and his fitness to serve in our state’s highest office,” she said in a press release.

A woman speaks at a press conference with four members of the media to her left.

Independent MP Moira Deeming said it was “only a matter of time” before she returned to the party room. Source: PAA / Joel Carrett

Former Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott called the result “disgraceful” and a “despicable failure to act with honor and decency”.

“How can a liberal elected official be kicked out based on a lie and not be readmitted once the truth is out there for all to see,” he posted on X, formerly known under the name Twitter.

The motion was signed by Benambra MP Bill Tilley, Opposition Emergency Services spokesperson Richard Riordan and first-term backbenchers Renee Heath, Joe McCracken and Chris Crewther.

Upper House MP Bev McArthur said Federal Court judge David O’Callaghan had done everything but demand Deeming’s return to the party room and his colleagues had missed a chance to right a “terrible wrong” .

“That was our job today and we failed,” she said.

Shadow cabinet secretary Ann-Marie Hermans, who also supported the motion, said the draw meant the issue was not resolved.

Riordan acknowledged the issue had not been resolved because the party was “split down the middle”, while Crewther warned “it might be difficult to unite”.

A Pesutto ally, speaking to the Australian Associated Press on condition of anonymity, admitted the problem would not go away and he was not sure Pesutto could survive.

“This is the worst result. It’s shocking,” said the Liberal MP. “There’s a huge gap.”

The Liberals will field candidates in the upcoming by-elections in Prahran and Werribee, following the resignations of Greens MP Sam Hibbins and long-serving Labor treasurer Tim Pallas.

The internal upheaval stems from Pesutto being found guilty of making defamatory remarks. following the 2023 Melbourne Rally.

She was initially given a nine-month suspension from the parliamentary party before being expelled after threatening to sue Pesutto.

Pesutto refused to resign following the Federal Court ruling, prompting former tennis player turned Nepean MP Sam Groth to leave the shadow cabinet.

On Friday, the leader confirmed he would not appeal the ruling, although he suggested there were “potential grounds” to do so.