President election, court feud hang over Libs meeting

Callum Godde | July 27, 2024

Rank-and-file Victorian Liberal Party members could dump their state president after less than a year in the major role.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will address a Liberal state council meeting in Melbourne on Saturday before the position of party president is put to a vote.

Graham Watt is challenging sitting president and fellow former state MP Philip Davis, after he succeeded ex-senator Greg Mirabella in September.

“If Phillip loses, we’re f***ed,” a Liberal MP speaking on condition of anonymity told AAP.

State Opposition Leader John Pesutto, who has faced backlash from conservative forces within the party, refused to be drawn on whether the election and funding of his upcoming defamation trial was a test of his leadership.

“They’re matters that the party will resolve,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“There are always contested elections at state council of the Liberal Party. 

“It’s a robust gathering, as it should be. We’re a democratic party and I look forward to attending on Saturday and Sunday.”

Mr Pesutto could face another frosty reception when he speaks at the event on Sunday.

The Hawthorn MP was booed and dozens of rank-and-file members walked out as he rose to give a speech at the same event at Bendigo in May 2023.

The staged reaction was prompted by first-term MP Moira Deeming being expelled from the parliamentary party after she threatened Mr Pesutto with defamation action.

It followed comments from Mr Pesutto about her attending a rally gatecrashed by a group of masked men who performed the Nazi salute.

The defamation dispute is scheduled to head to trial in September despite the state Liberal leader reaching settlements with rally speaker Kellie-Jay Keen and organiser Angela Jones.

Several energy-related motions are on the agenda for the two-day state council meeting, including one to repeal the state ban on nuclear activities and another to rescind a commitment to net-zero emissions.

Mr Dutton wants to set up seven nuclear plants at coal-fired power stations if the coalition wins the next federal election, including one at Loy Yang in Victoria’s Gippsland.

Mr Pesutto has previously said the state opposition has “no plans for nuclear,” insisting it is focused on addressing energy shortfalls through boosting gas supply.