John Pesutto created a ‘false narrative’ in order to expel Deeming, ousted MP’s lawyer argues in federal court

The Victorian opposition leader, John Pesutto, used the arrival of neo-Nazis at a rally Moira Deeming helped organise as an excuse to “get rid of her” from the Liberal party room, defaming her in the process, the ousted MP’s lawyer has argued.

Deeming, who now sits on the crossbench after her expulsion from the state parliamentary party, is suing Pesutto for allegedly falsely portraying her as a Nazi sympathiser after she spoke at the Let Women Speak rally held on 18 March 2023, which was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis. The state Liberal leader has denied the claim.

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