Overview

• Moira Deeming’s lawyers filed the notice in federal court on June 2 after Pesutto missed the deadline to pay her $2.3 million in legal fees.
• Pesutto faces automatic bankruptcy and parliamentary disqualification if he cannot settle or negotiate payment within 21 days.
• The legal action follows a December ruling that he defamed Deeming by implying she sympathised with extremist groups, which also led to a $300,000 damages award.
• Former premier Jeff Kennett has urged party leaders to cover Pesutto’s bill to prevent a Hawthorn by-election and maintain focus on holding the government to account.
• The Victorian Liberal Party’s administrative committee is debating a bailout but has yet to decide, putting Pesutto’s hold on his marginal seat in jeopardy.