Liberal Party Member John Pesutto Served with Bankruptcy Notice for Unpaid $2.3m Debt to Colleague Moira Deeming

Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming’s lawyers are moving to bankrupt the former state opposition leader, John Pesutto, after he failed to pay the $2.3 million in legal costs ordered by a court. Pesutto was found in December to have defamed Deeming by linking her to neo-Nazi and white supremacist sympathies. The deadline for payment was not met, and now Pesutto has 21 days to pay the amount or face bankruptcy, which would disqualify him from serving as a parliamentarian and could prompt a byelection in his seat of Hawthorn. Pesutto has paid $300,000 in damages and $15,000 in interest already. Deeming says the action is not taken lightly and is motivated by the need to be reimbursed. Pesutto has said he will take all necessary measures to avoid bankruptcy but remains in his position as MP. The situation could have broader implications, with discussions of financial support from the Liberal Party’s Cormack Foundation.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/02/bankruptcy-notice-john-pesutto-moira-deeming-victorian-liberal-party-ntwnfb