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

Expelled Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has alleged in a federal court defamation claim that Liberal leader John Pesutto launched a ‘relentless’ campaign that damaged her reputation. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

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.