John Pesutto, leader of the Victorian opposition, has responded to allegations that he is being pressured to resign due to the ongoing defamation case involving former MP Moira Deeming.
Outside of court today, Pesutto assured reporters that his leadership position was “stable” and that no one in his party had voiced any reservations about him.
“I speak to my colleagues regularly and I’ve got no concerns in that area,” said Pesutto.
Mark News is aware of the deep discontent within the Liberal party room, notwithstanding Pesutto’s stubborn conviction in the support of his party members for him.
The opposition spokeswoman has been absent for the last two weeks as the liberal leader battles former backbencher Moira Deeming in a slander lawsuit.
However, Pesutto remains optimistic that the party’s focus will not be diverted as the trial continues, as they are currently engaged in a battle to shift voter sentiment.
“We’ll be ready to take it up to the government again with what we need to hold the government to account to, including the latest blow out on the metro tunnel,” added Pesutto.
Members of his party who publicly shared this opinion included Tim McCurdy of the Nationals, Michael O’Brien of the Malverns, and the leader of the opposition in the upper chamber, Georgie Crozier, who asserted that she was “very very confident” in Pesutto’s leadership.
Crozier praised him as an excellent leader. As they came for their annual lunch at the Melbourne Royal Show, some members of Pesutto’s frontbench were less forthcoming.
“I don’t have anything to say about any of those things other than I hope you have a great time at the show,” Sandringham MP Brad Rowswell stated.
Top candidate for leadership role Sam Groth avoided questions regarding a possible leadership spill. Being at the Melbourne concert is fantastic.
For the city, it’s an amazing event,” he said.
“Looking forward to, getting inside, enjoying a nice lunch put on by the Royal Melbourne.”
Since former premier Daniel Andrews resigned, recent polls reveal that support for the Coalition has been increasing.
In the primary vote, the opposition has passed Labour and is now in first place, with a lead of ten percentage points.
The contest for preferred premier has also heated up, with Jacinta Allan’s lead shrinking from 12 percentage points at year’s end to just one point over Pesutto.
After his predecessor, Matthew Guy, stepped down after suffering his third consecutive electoral defeat, Pesutto assumed control of the party last year, winning the leadership campaign by a razor-thin margin of one vote.
