Pesutto could face leadership challenge this week – MASHAHER

The Age has spoken with nine MPs from the state Liberal Party in recent days, on the condition of anonymity to discuss the party’s internal woes, as well as senior party figures. Most MPs now believe there is enough support for a spill motion next Tuesday.

While there is no clear candidate to take over as leader in the event the spill is successful, MPs broadly believe support is split between frontbenchers Brad Battin and Sam Groth.

Sandringham MP Brad Rowswell and Brighton MP James Newbury had also been identified as leadership contenders, but MPs believe Newbury would struggle to unite the broader Coalition after Deeming revealed his stance on duck hunting risked blowing up the Coalition deal in January 2023.

The spill is also expected to target other members of the leadership team, including deputy leader David Southwick and Georgie Crozier. It comes after the court was played a 70-minute recording – secretly recorded by Southwick – of the party leadership reprimanding Deeming after she attended the Let Women Speak rally in 2023.

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In court, Southwick defended his decision to secretly record a meeting claiming it was to “protect” himself. But his colleagues say the decision to tape the meeting, and then keep it from colleagues, has infuriated MPs.

Another frontbench MP told The Age that to avoid a leadership challenge, both Pesutto and Southwick would need to “restore trust” across the party. On Sunday, some of Pesutto’s closest supporters insisted the party hasn’t been united in recent years and the case hadn’t substantially changed allegiances.

The opposition leader’s office was contacted for comment.

An earlier spill motion, before the planned October 15 meeting, had also been touted as an option by detractors, but several MPs remain on leave this week meaning they would miss a ballot if it were held on Friday or Monday – the earliest possible options under party rules.