By LIAM DURKIN
TRARALGON-born former state Liberal leader, John Pesutto may be forced out of politics, if the collateral damage from his case against Liberal colleague, Moira Deeming plunges him into bankruptcy.
By law, anyone declared bankrupt cannot sit in parliament.
Mr Pesutto was last year found guilty of defaming Ms Deeming, after she attended a women’s rights rally, and ordered to pay $300,000 in damages by the federal court.
The fallout saw Mr Pesutto lose the Liberal party leadership, and be relegated to the crossbench under current leader Brad Battin.
Things might yet go from bad to worse for the Traralgon local, as there are fears a cost ruling could bankrupt him.
If Mr Pesutto (the Member for Hawthorn), is declared insolvent, it will trigger a by-election.
Deputy Premier, Ben Carroll last week told the Herald Sun Labor would entertain the prospect of contesting Hawthorn.
“If there is a by-election in Hawthorn, we’d welcome it,” he said.
“We’ve held that seat before. I’ve been in Hawthorn regularly. We’ve got a good story to tell.
“It’s a very marginal seat and I know we’ve put a lot of investment in there but it’s a matter for John Pesutto and the Liberal Party as to whether there’s changes in that district.”
Mr Pesutto however said he was up for what is looming as the fight of his political career.
“Serving as the Member for Hawthorn has been the privilege and honour of my professional career. I have continued to receive very strong support from my constituents to represent them and I remain fully committed to doing so for as long as they will have me,” he said.
“I will continue to be a constructive and devoted member of the Liberal team in order to win the 2026 election and be the positive and reforming government Victorians desperately need.”
Mr Pesutto appears to have people in his corner, as it is understood some within the Liberal party room are plotting to end Ms Deeming’s own political career.
His demise however could only solidify Labor’s chances of seeking an historic fourth term next year.
“I’ve always said I thought there was a place for John Pesutto. I thought he was their best and was their strongest leader (but) they decided to neck him,” Mr Carroll said.
The Herald Sun also reported former premiers Jeff Kennett, Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine had chipped in their own money to help the embattled MP.
The sorry saga has been a swift turn of events for Mr Pesutto, who only five months ago was leading a Resolve poll as preferred Premier.
Seven weeks later, he wasn’t even party leader.
Mr Pesutto grew up and went to school in Traralgon, and played soccer for Olympians and Traralgon City.
He is not the first Traralgon MP to come out of court crestfallen. Former Member for Morwell, Russell Northe was sentenced to 21 months jail in 2023 for using public money to fuel his gambling addiction.
The Liberals will be hoping to win something bigger than a state election next week, with the federal election laid down for Saturday, May 3.
Early voting began Tuesday (April 22). Latrobe Valley locals can attend either 40-50 Queens Parade, Traralgon, 34 Princes Drive, Morwell, or 34 Fowler Street, Moe to avoid the queue on election day.
Candidates for Gippsland and Monash have also begun revealing their preferences.
Labor is expected to hold government, with the most recent Resolve poll showing 46 per cent have Anthony Albanese as preferred Prime Minister.
Not encouraging gambling, but giving betting agencies are generally the most accurate political measure, Sportsbet had Labor as short as $1.22 odds on Monday.
