#auspol #DeemingVPesutto

> John Pesutto Moira Deeming case: John Howard, Tony Abbott mooted as peacemakers in abandoned deal

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/howard-abbott-mooted-as-deeming-peacemakers-in-abandoned-deal-20241217-p5kz18.html

> Opposition Leader John Pesutto was prepared to outsource Moira Deeming’s readmission to the Victorian Liberal party room to former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott in a desperate bid to prevent her defamation case against him from ending up in court.

> However, the radical proposal was ultimately not enough to sway the ousted MP, who wanted a guarantee she would be welcomed back into the party fold before she abandoned her Federal Court proceedings.

> The previously undisclosed details of Pesutto’s settlement plan, which were confirmed by two sources familiar with negotiations, and Deeming’s best pre-trial offer to her former leader will be weighed by Liberal MPs as they prepare for the Friday morning vote on Deeming’s return.

> The revelations may also influence Federal Court judge David O’Callaghan’s deliberations on how the multimillion-dollar costs arising from the year-long litigation should be split between the parties.

> On Tuesday, Pesutto’s lawyers served notice on Deeming’s team seeking the identity of all donors who funded her case and the amount of financial support she received. Deeming’s lawyers are likely to follow suit, setting off another round of legal manoeuvres.

...

> The proposal faltered over Deeming’s concerns that deferring to a panel – even one where she picked the majority of members – and discontinuing her case ahead of their recommendations would give her no certainty of outcome.