Victorian Liberal Party crisis deepens with insiders claiming John Pesutto’s leadership is ‘dead’ after he backflipped on Australia’s most controversial MP

John Pesutto’s leadership of the Victorian Liberals appears to be on borrowed time, with even his supporters abandoning him ahead of a likely spill on Friday.

Despite the fact that he hesitates about allowing opponent Moira. The state’s opposition leader is facing increasing calls to resign.

A party chamber vote could take place as early as Friday, with him likely to be fired and replaced by opposition police spokesman Brad Battin.

An unnamed Liberal MP, who previously claimed to support Pesutto, said this The Australian the controversial leader must resign to avoid a waste of leadership.

‘It’s done. It’s over for John,” the MP said, claiming the Liberal party room wanted him out before Christmas.

‘The discussion is now about what the future looks like.’

Australian Associated Press also reported that an anonymous Liberal MP predicted Pesutto’s impending death on Sunday evening.

“We will see a new leader – I have no doubt about that,” the Liberal MP said.

Mr Pesutto, however, remained defiant on Sunday afternoon.

“We have resonated positively with Victorians and have a great opportunity to improve our vote and potentially win Prahran and Werribee in this by-election,” he told The Australian.

“Our work has ensured that we have continued our rise as an alternative government, even in the face of internal challenges. Let us maintain our focus and direction.”

The party’s unrest in Victoria has prompted federal opposition leader Peter Dutton to wait to announce the reshuffle of his shadow ministries until early in the new year, amid fears a potential leadership spill could overshadow the unveiling of his “election-ready” team.

Mr Battin – a former police officer – was considered the front-runner to take the leadership, while finance spokeswoman Jess Wilson was a possible candidate for the deputy role, along with former Australian tennis player Sam Groth.

Mr Pesutto, who completely lost a defamation case brought against him by Ms Deeming, cast his casting vote to prevent her from returning to the banquet hall on Friday.

This weekend, however, he declared that a “definitive absolute majority” of party members wanted her back and even offered a groveling apology.

Moira Deeming (pictured after her victory in court on Thursday) won a defamation case she brought against Mr Pesutto after he expelled her from the parliamentary party

“I apologize again to Ms Deeming as we all work together to ensure the Liberal Party succeeds in winning government in November 2026,” Pesutto said.

He called the second special meeting for January 15.

However, Mr Battin, Mr Groth and fellow Liberal MPs Richard Riordan, James Newbury and Bridget Vallence have since signed a petition for the meeting to take place next Friday.

Four members are members of Pesutto’s shadow cabinet.

Mr Groth resigned from his position in the shadow cabinet following Mr Pesutto’s refusal to resign after the Federal Court ruled last week that he had defamed Ms Deeming and ordered him to pay $315,632 in damages plus costs.

On Friday, Liberal MPs were split 14-14 over whether to welcome Ms Deeming back to the party after she was expelled over a controversial meeting she attended in March 2023 that was disrupted by neo-Nazis.

Mr Pesutto used his casting vote to break the 14-14 tie, although he argued that this was not technically necessary as the motion required more than half of the party’s 30 members to be adopted.

Ms Deeming, who remains a member of the Liberal Party but sits in the state’s upper house as an independent MP, used an interview on Saturday to call for the leader’s removal.

“To treat me like a vengeful witch who should be burned at the stake is just incredibly insulting,” she told Seven News.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott previously attacked the Victorian Liberals who voted against her readmission to the party on Friday.

“How can someone elected as a liberal be expelled on the basis of a lie and not readmitted once the truth is out there for all to see?” the former Liberal Prime Minister posted on X.

“Especially just before Christmas, the season of goodwill, this is a truly despicable failure to act with honor and decency.”

The internal unrest stems from Mr Pesutto making defamatory comments suggesting Ms Deeming had links to Nazis after the Melbourne rally.

She was initially suspended for nine months before being expelled from the parliamentary party after threatening to sue Mr Pesutto.