Moira Deeming defamation suit: Victorian Liberal leader ‘exhausted every effort’ to prevent legal action

John Pesutto says he thought talks between them had been ‘very constructive’ but his proposals weren’t accepted, as MP sues for damages

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Victoria’s opposition leader, John Pesutto, says he “exhausted every effort” to avoid defamation proceedings before they were filed by expelled Liberal MP Moira Deeming.

Deeming lodged her statement of claim against Pesutto in the federal court on Tuesday, alleging the state Liberal leader launched an “ongoing, relentless and persistent public campaign” that damaged her reputation when he moved to expel her from the party in March.

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