Slater and Gordon Lawyers Media Release
The ongoing legal battle between Victorian Liberal Party MP, John Pesutto, and Liberal MP, Moira Deeming, has raised concerns among political observers and lawyers alike after the Liberal Party stepped in to secure loans for Pesutto’s costly legal fees.
Slater and Gordon Land Rights Disputes and Advisory Senior Associate Adrian McMillan said the case exposes a grey area over whether the courts can, or should, intervene in internal political party disputes.
“The law in this area is far from settled. The highest courts in Victoria and NSW have completely different opinions on whether rules of political parties are justiciable. In other words, if the matter can be heard before the courts.
“This dispute has the potential to end up all the way in the High Court, with the Court asked to rule on this hotly disputed topic,” Mr McMillan said.
The administration committee of the Victorian Liberals resolved to allow its investment company (Vapold) to loan John Pesutto MP $1.55m to cover his legal costs debt to Moira Deeming.
A hearing is listed in the Victorian Supreme Court for March 2026, seeking an injunction against the validity of the Administration Committee’s decision.
This case raises the important issue of whether political party rules are justiciable, and if they are subject to trial in a court of law.
The current law in Victoria is that political party rules are justiciable.
Conversely, the position in New South Wales is that they are not.
“Political observers and pundits all over Australia will be watching this unfold with great interest,” Mr McMillan said.
Keep Independent Journalism Alive – Support The AIMN
Dear Reader,
Since 2013, The Australian Independent Media Network has been a fearless voice for truth, giving public interest journalists a platform to hold power to account. From expert analysis on national and global events to uncovering issues that matter to you, we’re here because of your support.
Running an independent site isn’t cheap, and rising costs mean we need you now more than ever. Your donation – big or small – keeps our servers humming, our writers digging, and our stories free for all.
Join our community of truth-seekers. Donate via PayPal or credit card via the button below, or bank transfer [BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969] and help us keep shining a light.
With gratitude, The AIMN Team
Liberal Party policy on ethics: One rule fo the LNP; all other rules for the LNP exclusively
The LNP has crammed themselves into the descending to ultimate oblivion Titan submerisible.
If Pesutto is so well regarded by his political mates, why couldn’t they use their own money to bail him out?
Political parties are clubs created by their members for their own benefit, seems strange that the club committee have agreed to use member’s funds to pay the debts of one member without the agreement of all members.
I can foresee the club members abandoning this Liberal club as it has lost its direction and forgotten its purpose, whether it is legal or not is beside the point.
This writer can only see these carryings-on as evidence of a breakdown, perhaps irreversible, within the Libs and the split between hard conservatives and Trumpite populists, and the remnants of more rational (neo?)libs.
Pesutto was a step in the right direction. With people like Pesutto there was a tacit acknowledgement that the abrasive style and ideological economic politics were “off” with the electorate and that Pesuttto was a desperate lunge to the centre away from irrational hard right, “do as I say not as I do” stuff in an attempt to vector in on Bracks/ Andrews politicians rather than confrontationist figures…still conservative but more rational.
But Deeming and her like are confrontationist, no compromises from them at state or federal level, something has seen lib disintegration over the last decade
It’s true that the rightist purging of Deakinite liberalism has been under way for many decades….since the ‘eighties of last century and the “wets and “dries” conflict between centrists and IPA-driven hard conservatives.
In the current mess the see the continuation of the hard right push that allows for no reconciliaton with the centre or reality; Deeeming on the Right and Pesutto, the rest.
The right can’t grasp that the public is tired of austerity and rip-offs, “why won’t they unthinkingly accept our mediated, monnths old grub-filled dead cat”, they wonder.
The wiser heads realised it in putting the more moderate face of Pesutto as leader as part of a new start/image rebrand, but after this they seem divided, incoherent and arefusal to accomodate
Victoria is debt ridden, many suburbs are confronted by violent crimes. Economic confidence is poor and social cohesion is on the slide.
The state deserves far better, but the Liberals are so divided and internally focused, there is no pressure on an incompetent government.
It is a disgrace
I don’t “know” (and who does??) but the NSW position is probably right and acceptable, though the Victorian position is possibly right and may be tested. The HIGH court would hardly be suitable yet is essential, expensive, may raise more problems than are imagined might be solved, and, generally irritate and cost and confuse. So?? Deeming? Lady Hun. (USA history on this justiciability issue will not assist…)