Moira Deeming created ‘extreme’ political problem akin to ‘lobster with a mobster’ incident, defamation trial told

John Pesutto had to cauterise the damage' to the Victorian Liberal party caused by MP's conduct, lawyer argues

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John Pesutto's lawyer has rejected claims the Victorian Liberal leader created a false narrative" in order to expel Moira Deeming, telling a court he acted to cauterise the damage" after neo-Nazis gatecrashed a rally the MP helped organised.

Deeming, who now sits on the crossbench after her expulsion from the state parliamentary Liberal 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. Pesutto has denied the claim.

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