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The '''2024 Victorian Liberal Party leadership spill''' took place on 27 December 2024 to elect the leader of the ] and, ], ].<ref name="toface">{{cite web |last1=Rooney |first1=Kieran |last2=Eddie |first2=Rachel |title=John Pesutto to face leadership spill on Friday |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/pesutto-calls-another-party-room-vote-on-deeming-s-re-admission-20241222-p5l07l.html |publisher=The Age |access-date=22 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222080945/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/pesutto-calls-another-party-room-vote-on-deeming-s-re-admission-20241222-p5l07l.html |archive-date=22 December 2024 |date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="shoreup">{{cite web |last1=Kolovos |first1=Benita |title=Embattled John Pesutto makes bid to shore up support ahead of Victorian Liberal leadership spill |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/24/john-pesutto-moira-deeming-victoria-liberal-party-leadership-spill-ntwnfb |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=24 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224040213/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/24/john-pesutto-moira-deeming-victoria-liberal-party-leadership-spill-ntwnfb |archive-date=24 December 2024 |date=24 December 2024}}</ref> Incumbent leader ], a ], lost a ] and was replaced by ], a ], in the subsequent leadership spill.
The '''2024 Victorian Liberal Party leadership spill''' took place on 27 December 2024 to elect the leader of the ] and, ], ].<ref name="toface">{{cite web |last1=Rooney |first1=Kieran |last2=Eddie |first2=Rachel |title=John Pesutto to face leadership spill on Friday |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/pesutto-calls-another-party-room-vote-on-deeming-s-re-admission-20241222-p5l07l.html |publisher=The Age |access-date=22 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222080945/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/pesutto-calls-another-party-room-vote-on-deeming-s-re-admission-20241222-p5l07l.html |archive-date=22 December 2024 |date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="shoreup">{{cite web |last1=Kolovos |first1=Benita |title=Embattled John Pesutto makes bid to shore up support ahead of Victorian Liberal leadership spill |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/24/john-pesutto-moira-deeming-victoria-liberal-party-leadership-spill-ntwnfb |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=24 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224040213/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/24/john-pesutto-moira-deeming-victoria-liberal-party-leadership-spill-ntwnfb |archive-date=24 December 2024 |date=24 December 2024}}</ref> Incumbent leader ], a ], lost a ] and was replaced by ], a ], in the subsequent leadership spill.
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* Shadow Minister for Home Ownership and Housing Affordability (2023–present)
* Shadow Minister for Home Ownership and Housing Affordability (2023–present)
* Shadow Minister for Outer Suburban Growth (2023–present)
* Shadow Minister for Outer Suburban Growth (2023–present)
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| width="3pt" {{Australian party style|National Right}} |
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| ]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kolovos |first1=Benita |title='Hurtful to Indigenous Victorians': John Pesutto rebukes Bev McArthur over colonisation comments |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/30/hurtful-to-indigenous-victorians-john-pesutto-rebukes-bev-mcarthur-over-colonisation-comments |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=24 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606100734/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/30/hurtful-to-indigenous-victorians-john-pesutto-rebukes-bev-mcarthur-over-colonisation-comments |archive-date=6 June 2023 |date=30 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lamacraft |first1=Tim |title=MP accuses First Nations of 'extortion' over land claims |url=https://www.bay939.com.au/local-news/mp-accuses-first-nations-of-extortion-over-land-claims/ |publisher=Bay 93.9 |access-date=24 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224035108/https://www.bay939.com.au/local-news/mp-accuses-first-nations-of-extortion-over-land-claims/ |archive-date=24 December 2024 |date=9 February 2024}}</ref>
| ]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kolovos |first1=Benita |title='Hurtful to Indigenous Victorians': John Pesutto rebukes Bev McArthur over colonisation comments |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/30/hurtful-to-indigenous-victorians-john-pesutto-rebukes-bev-mcarthur-over-colonisation-comments |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=24 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606100734/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/30/hurtful-to-indigenous-victorians-john-pesutto-rebukes-bev-mcarthur-over-colonisation-comments |archive-date=6 June 2023 |date=30 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lamacraft |first1=Tim |title=MP accuses First Nations of 'extortion' over land claims |url=https://www.bay939.com.au/local-news/mp-accuses-first-nations-of-extortion-over-land-claims/ |publisher=Bay 93.9 |access-date=24 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224035108/https://www.bay939.com.au/local-news/mp-accuses-first-nations-of-extortion-over-land-claims/ |archive-date=24 December 2024 |date=9 February 2024}}</ref>
In a public statement, Pesutto described Deeming's position as "untenable" due to her "involvement in organising, promoting and participating in a rally with speakers and other organisers who themselves have been publicly associated with far right-wing extremist groups including neo-Nazi activists". He then moved to expel her from the Liberal party room.
Deeming subsequently threatened to sue Pesutto for defamation over his comments. On 12 May 2023, Liberal MPs voted 19 votes to 11 to expel her from the party room. Deeming moved to the crossbench and sat as an Independent Liberal.
In December 2023, after months of attempted mediation failed, Deeming filled a civil complaint against Pesutto, saying that she had been falsely accused of being an associate of "neo-Nazi sympathisers and extremists". Pesutto denied Deeming's claims, stating that he had never called her a "neo-Nazi, white supremacist or anything similar".
Defamation verdict and Deeming readmission vote
On 12 December 2024, the Federal Court of Australia ruled that Pesutto had defamed Deeming, and he was ordered to pay her $300,000. Pesutto said he was "very disappointed" by the verdict, but would not step down as leader. One day later, Nepean MP Sam Groth resigned from the shadow ministry, saying that "in good conscience, no longer continue to serve" in his roles as Shadow Minister for Youth and Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport and Events.
A vote was held on 20 December 2024 on a motion to readmit Deeming to the Liberal party room. The vote was tied at 14−14 (with two MPs absent) and Pesutto used his casting vote to break the tie, although he said it was technically not needed because the motion required an "absolute majority" of 16 out of 30 MPs to pass.
Spill announced
On 22 December 2024, Pesutto called a second meeting to discuss readmitting Deeming, which would be held on 15 January 2025. He said that since the meeting on 20 December, "it has become clear that there is now a definite absolute majority of my colleagues who want this issue resolved". Pesutto apologised to Deeming in his statement, and stated that there was a need for the Liberals to concentrate on the upcoming by-elections in Prahran and Werribee.
Several hours later, The Age reported that Pesutto was going to face a leadership challenge from Brad Battin on 27 December 2024. A letter calling for a special meeting was signed by Battin, Groth, James Newbury, Bridget Vallence and Richard Riordan. The meeting will bring forward the discussion on Deeming's readmission – instead of it happening in January 2025 – and is also expected to result in a spill occurring.
On 24 December (Christmas Eve), Pesutto emailed Liberal MPs to inform them that he would allow members to vote remotely at the meeting, with Cindy McLeish and Nick McGowan unable to attend in-person. Newbury accused Pesutto of breaching the party's constitution in favour of his personal interests, as McLeish was known to be a supporter of Pesutto in the past. The Australian reported on 26 December that Battin had called Pesutto to inform him that he would challenge for the leadership. Kew MP Jess Wilson announced publicly on the same day that if a spill motion was successful, she would contest the leadership. Mornington MP Chris Crewther revealed on 27 December, the day of the spill, that he would also contest the leadership.
Schmidt, Nathan (20 November 2023). "Controversial MP Moira Deeming to sue Liberal leader after party expulsion". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2024. Victoria Independent Liberal MP Moira Deeming has expressed her gratitude to the state Liberal Party for supporting her push for an inquiry into gender-affirming care for children.