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John Pesutto

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John Pesutto
MP
Pesutto in 2023
Leader of the Opposition in Victoria
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 December 2022
PremierDaniel Andrews
Jacinta Allan
DeputyPeter Walsh
Preceded byMatthew Guy
Leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 December 2022
DeputyDavid Southwick
Preceded byMatthew Guy
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Hawthorn
Incumbent
Assumed office
26 November 2022
Preceded byJohn Kennedy
In office
29 November 2014 – 24 November 2018
Preceded byTed Baillieu
Succeeded byJohn Kennedy
Personal details
Born (1970-09-05) 5 September 1970 (age 54)
Traralgon, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLiberal
SpouseBetty Pesutto
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer
Signature
Websitehttp://www.johnpesutto.com.au/

John Pesutto (Italian: [pezˈutːo]; born 5 September 1970) is an Australian politician and lawyer serving as the Leader of the Opposition in Victoria, holding office as the leader of the Victorian Branch of the Liberal Party of Australia. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the inner-city division of Hawthorn since 2022, and previously from 2014 to 2018.[1]

Early life and career

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Pesutto grew up in Traralgon, and is one of five children.[2] Both of his parents are from Calabria in southern Italy.[2] His father immigrated to Australia in 1961, and his mother immigrated in 1963.[2] His father was an electrician and his mother was a machinist at McArthur's shoe factory in Traralgon.[2]

Pesutto studied at Catholic Regional College Traralgon from 1983 to 1988, and studied a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne from 1989 to 1993. He worked as a lawyer for Littleton Hackford from 1994 to 1996, as an Electorate Officer for Russell Broadbent from 1996 to 1997, as a lawyer for Henty Jepson & Kelly from 1997 to 2006, as a lawyer for Phillips Fox from 2006 to 2009, as a self-employed consultant from 2009 to 2011 and Director of the Productivity and Employment Unit with the Institute of Public Affairs in 2010,[3] and in the Office of the Premier from 2011 to 2014 as Counsel to Denis Napthine, Chief of Staff to the Health Minister and as a senior advisor to Ted Baillieu.[4] During his career in private legal practice, Pesutto practised with a focus on industrial relations and employment matters, while his consultancy had a focus on advising government departments and public sector agencies on governance and performance issues.[5]

After losing his seat in the 2018 Victorian state election, Pesutto took up an honorary post in the school of government at the University of Melbourne, established his own consultancy firm called Hugo Benice Advisory offering legal work and media, government and competition advice, and maintained a presence in the media through writing columns for The Age and appearing on ABC Radio and Joy FM.[6]

Political career

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Pesutto's Electorate office in Hawthorn

Pesutto ran for Liberal preselection for Kooyong at the 2010 federal election but lost to Josh Frydenberg.[2] Pesutto also ran for preselection in Deakin at the 2013 federal election but lost to Michael Sukkar.[7]

Pesutto was pre-selected as Liberal Party candidate for Hawthorn after defeating John Roskam of the Institute of Public Affairs for the position. He was successful at the 2014 state election. He was Shadow Attorney-General in Matthew Guy's first shadow ministry.[8] He was defeated at the 2018 state election. He was a panelist on ABC on election night when he was told on live television that he had lost his seat to Labor's John Kennedy.[9]

On 14 December 2021, John Pesutto was again endorsed as the Liberal candidate for Hawthorn at the 2022 Victorian state election.[10] Pesutto won re-election in the state election on 26 November 2022 against Labor incumbent John Kennedy and teal independent challenger Melissa Lowe on a 1.7% margin.[11]

Opposition leader (2022–present)

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Pesutto speaking at a Lunar New Year Festival in February 2024

After Liberal leader Matthew Guy announced his resignation,[12] Pesutto announced his candidacy for Liberal leader.[13] Pesutto was elected leader of the Liberal Party on 8 December 2022, winning the party room ballot by one vote against Brad Battin.[14]

Moira Deeming controversy

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See also: Moira Deeming § Anti-trans rally

Under Pesutto's leadership, in March 2023 his party considered expelling Liberal MP Moira Deeming from the party, but opted to suspend her from the party room for nine months.[15][16][17][18] Deeming later initiated legal action against Pesutto after he declined her demand to issue a media statement saying that he does not consider her a Nazi or Nazi sympathiser.[19] This saga was part of a crisis within the Victorian Liberal Party in May 2023, when Pesutto's leadership was undermined by members of the hard-right faction of the Liberal Party, who two Liberal MPs labelled ‘terrorists’.[20] Liberal Party elder Tony Barry described the situation as “The Victorian Liberal Party is like the space shuttle Columbia slamming into the Hindenburg and then landing on the deck of the Titanic".[21] Federal Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton on 5 May 2023, refused to rule out an intervention into the Victorian Liberal Party.[22] Deeming was eventually expelled on May 11, 2023, by a vote of 19–11. The vote was widely considered a test of Pesutto's leadership of the parliamentary Liberal party.[23] At the 20th of May 2023 Liberal state council meeting in Bendigo, Pesutto was booed by attendees for his handling of situation.[24][25][26][27] The controversy resulted in the Victorian Liberals recording their lowest ever primary vote of 23% in published opinion polls.[28] The Federal Liberal Women's Committee condemned Pesutto for suspending Deeming, and demanded Pesutto apologise and immediately reinstate Deeming to the partyroom.[29]

Pesutto's actions in relation to the Moira Deeming affair had led to three defamation lawsuits being filed against him by Deeming, Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull and Angela Jones,[30][31][32] with the three cases set be heard together in a 15 day trial to commence on 16 September 2024.[33][34][35] On 16 May 2024, Pesutto settled the two cases involving Kellie-Jay Keen and Angie Jones, with the Deeming case remaining in place; Pesutto issued a public apology to the two, and as part of the settlement, he did not have to pay compensation as part of the settlement, but would share a portion of the legal costs.[36][37] In December 2024 the Federal Court ruled that Pesutto had defamed Deeming by suggesting that she associates with Nazis.[38]

Political positions

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Pesutto is considered to be factionally moderate within the Liberal Party.[39][40][41] However, Pesutto has been criticised for failing to demonstrate or affirm his moderate credentials during his time in the Victorian parliament, and for consistently opposing progressive social policies.[42]

Health

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Pesutto has been outspoken against the Victorian government’s previously proposed payroll tax reforms, which he has argued threatens to close medical clinics and undermine bulk-billing services.[43] He has argued that the proposed changes to payroll tax which would include contractor GPs and employee GPs who provide bulk-billed consultations, would significantly increases the cost of GP visits, disproportionately affecting vulnerable patients and potentially causing clinic closures. In May 2024, Pesutto announced that a future Coalition government will scrap the payroll tax on GPs.[44] However a few weeks later, following significant backlash, the Allan Labor government backflipped on the payroll tax proposal for GPs.[45][46][47]

Housing and Planning

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In May 2024, Pesutto pledged new measures to reduce planning approval delays, focusing on cutting "red tape" for new residential housing developments. This would involve establishing clear timelines and costs for cultural heritage procedures, publishing annual audits of cultural heritage approvals linked to housing developments and introducing annual performance audits for Melbourne Water. He argues that the existing regulations increase costs for residential developers, ultimately affecting homebuyers.[48] However, this policy proposal has faced criticism for allegedly exacerbating racial divisions over cultural heritage management. Critics including Premier Jacinta Allan and the First Peoples' Assembly argue that this approach could undermine the importance of cultural heritage protection, particularly for Indigenous communities.[49]

Indigenous affairs

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In early 2023, leading up to the unsuccessful 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, Pesutto remained undecided, citing a lack of detail on the proposal and allowed party room members to have a conscience vote.[50][51] However in September 2023, Pesutto declared that he was voting "no" in the referendum but would not be campaigning against it.[52] In January 2024, Pesutto announced that the Coalition would withdraw its support for a state-based treaty with Indigenous communities.[53]

Infrastructure

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Pesutto has pledged to pause and review the Suburban Rail Loop if the Coalition wins government in 2026, citing concerns about rising state debt, cost uncertainty, and the lack of funding available for other transport projects including the Western Rail Plan and Melbourne Airport Rail.[54]

In March 2024, Pesutto announced a new policy aimed at improving performance and transparency within Victoria’s construction sector. The policy proposes to reinstate the Victorian Code of Practice for the Building and Construction Industry, which was abolished by the Andrews Labor government in 2015. This code would aim to address misconduct and cost blowouts on Big Build infrastructure projects which have exceeded $38 billion, including the North East Link and West Gate Tunnel.[55] A new regulatory body, Construction Enforcement Victoria, would oversee compliance with the code, ensuring standards are met in areas like dispute resolution and the prevention of sham contracting. [56] In July 2024, following allegations of corruption and criminal activity by the CFMEU, Pesutto called for a Royal Commission to investigate potential misconduct by the CFMEU on government projects.[57] The proposed inquiry would assess the nature and impact of CFMEU misconduct, evaluate current prevention systems, and examine procurement practices.[58]

Pill testing

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In January 2024, following an increase in overdoses at music festivals, Pesutto argued against pill testing measures, asserting "the health and safety of young Victorians needs to come first, and there are ways to promote that health and safety without the risks that surround pill testing".[59] Pesutto is opposed to legislation seeking to increase the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years old, citing concerns over potential escalation in youth crime rates.[60]

Taxation

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In May 2023, Pesutto announced plans to reform Victoria’s tax system, including a review if elected to government in 2026. A review would look at different aspects of the state's tax framework, including stamp duty, land tax, payroll tax and insurance levies. Pesutto has criticised the state Labor government, stating that Victoria has the highest rate of taxation of any jurisdiction in Australia.[61]

Personal life

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A resident of Hawthorn for over 25 years, Pesutto is married to Betty, and has three daughters.[62] He has been married to Betty for over 20 years.[2]

He has described himself as being "from the Greek parts of Italy".[63]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Hawthorn (Key Seat) - VIC Election 2022". ABC News. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lucas, Clay (8 December 2022). "Victoria's new opposition leader: Who is John Pesutto?". The Age. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  3. ^ Moran Chartered Accountants (28 October 2010). Financial Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2010 (PDF) (Report). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Mr John Pesutto". Re-Member: a database of all Victorian MPs since 1851. Parliament of Victoria. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Mr John Pesutto". The University of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  6. ^ Brook, Stephen (4 June 2022). "'Falling off a cliff': Life after the people vote you out". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Former peacekeeper in preselection battle". 4 May 2012.
  8. ^ "'Why don't we get James on the line': John Pesutto hits back at rorting accusations". 3AW. 30 July 2018. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  9. ^ "Victorian election TV panellist told he has lost his seat on live TV during Labor's landslide win". ABC News. 24 November 2018. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  10. ^ Clarke, Mitch (14 December 2021). "Pesutto on comeback trail from on-air humiliation". Herald Sun. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  11. ^ "John Pesutto clinches Hawthorn victory, paving way for Victorian Liberal leadership bid". ABC News. 29 November 2022. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Matthew Guy resigns as Victorian Liberal leader after election loss". 7NEWS. 27 November 2022. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  13. ^ "John Pesutto to announce Victorian Liberal Party leadership bid". Sky News Australia. 30 November 2022. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  14. ^ "John Pesutto wins Liberal leadership in Victoria by one vote". Australian Financial Review. 8 December 2022. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  15. ^ Kolovos, Benita (20 March 2023). "Victorian opposition leader moves to expel MP involved in anti-trans protest attended by neo-Nazis". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  16. ^ Ilanbey, Sumeyya; Eddie, Rachel; Sakkal, Paul (21 March 2023). "Bid to delay expulsion of Deeming fails as details of Pesutto's motion revealed". The Age. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  17. ^ Kolovos, Benita (20 March 2023). "Moira Deeming vows to fight expulsion push over involvement in protest attended by neo-Nazis". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Liberal MP set to be expelled over role in violent Melbourne anti-trans rally". 7NEWS. 19 March 2023. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Moira Deeming to sue John Pesutto for defamation Victorian Liberal Party in crisis". The Age. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  20. ^ Kolovos, Benita (4 May 2023). "Victorian Liberals plunge into chaos as John Pesutto faces second coming of Moira Deeming | Victorian politics | The Guardian". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  21. ^ Deery, Shannon; Perillo, Sarah (4 May 2023). "'Growing concern' within Libs over Deeming scandal". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  22. ^ Kolovos, Benita; Remeikis, Amy (5 May 2023). "Moira Deeming faces new challenge as Victorian Liberals push for vote to expel her from party". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  23. ^ Kolovos, Benita (12 May 2023). "Moira Deeming expelled from Victorian Liberal party room after threat to sue leader John Pesutto". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  24. ^ Wong, Leanne (20 May 2023). "Victorian Liberal Party members 'disgusted' by treatment of Moira Deeming interrupt leader's state council speech". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto booed and heckled by Moira Deeming supporters". SBS News. 20 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023.
  26. ^ Smethurst, Annika (19 May 2023). "'Shame, shame': Liberal members unrest adds to Pesutto leadership woes". Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  27. ^ "Moira Deeming supporters boo and walk out on Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto at state council". The Guardian. 20 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023.
  28. ^ Smethurst, Annika (14 June 2023). "'Can't get much lower': Pesutto's Coalition sinks to new low in polls". The Age. Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  29. ^ Smethurst, Annika; Eddie, Rachel (16 June 2023). "Liberal women demand dumped MP Moira Deeming be reinstated". The Age. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  30. ^ Ore, Adeshola (18 March 2024). "John Pesutto's leadership under fresh strain as two further defamation cases loom". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  31. ^ McCubbing, Gus (18 March 2024). "Pesutto's leadership in crisis amid new defamation proceedings". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  32. ^ Kolovos, Benita; Ore, Adeshola (19 March 2024). "Victorian opposition leader accused of trashing activist's reputation in second defamation suit". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  33. ^ Kolovos, Benita (28 March 2024). "Three defamation cases against Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto to be heard in single trial". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  34. ^ Cosoleto, Tara (28 March 2024). "Three defamation cases against Liberal leader John Pesutto over 2023 rally". Nine News. Nine Network. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  35. ^ Beatty, Liam. "John Pesutto: Victorian Liberal leader to fight three defamation cases at trial". News.com.au. News Corp. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  36. ^ Willingham, Richard. "Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto settles two defamation cases". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  37. ^ Brown, Melissa. "Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto apologises after settling two defamation cases". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  38. ^ Asher, Nicole; Wong, Leanne (13 December 2024). "Moira Deeming wins defamation case against John Pesutto, judge orders $300k in damages". ABC News. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  39. ^ Preiss, Benjamin (4 December 2018). "Labor claims victory in blue-ribbon Liberal seat of Hawthorn". The Age. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  40. ^ Preiss, Benjamin (5 December 2018). "The lessons that must be learnt from Pesutto's loss". The Age. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  41. ^ Fowler, Michael (21 March 2021). "'Come back and lead'? Not quite, but Pesutto wants more than just a comeback". The Age. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  42. ^ Smethurst, Annika (February 2024). "No, no, no: Pesutto was meant to be the great moderate. Where's the evidence?". The Age. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  43. ^ Liberal Party of Victoria (10 May 2024). "Liberals and Nationals to abolish Labor's regressive payroll tax". Liberal Party of Victoria. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  44. ^ ABC News (10 May 2024). "Victorian Opposition blasts payroll tax in state budget". ABC News. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  45. ^ Liberal Party of Victoria (22 May 2024). "Liberals and Nationals secure scrapping of Labor's payroll tax". Liberal Party of Victoria. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  46. ^ Pallas, Tim (22 May 2024). "Supporting more bulk-billed consultations for Victorians". Tim Pallas. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  47. ^ Carmody, Broede; Eddie, Rachel; Smethurst, Annika (22 May 2024). "Labor dumps GP payroll tax after shock poll shows primary vote slump". The Age. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  48. ^ AAP (28 July 2024). "Victorian opposition leader vows to slash cultural heritage red tape on residential projects". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  49. ^ Brennan, Dechlan (30 July 2024). "Victorian Liberals accused of stoking nasty racial division over cultural heritage management". NIT News. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  50. ^ McCubbing, Gus (12 February 2023). "Victorian Liberals question Voice after listening to their 'gut'". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  51. ^ Oakes, Dan (2 May 2023). "Victorian Liberal MPs to have free vote in Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum". ABC News (Australia). Archived from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  52. ^ Smethurst, Annika (4 September 2023). "Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto to vote No on Indigenous Voice". The Age. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  53. ^ Kolovos, Benita; Ore, Adeshola (22 January 2024). "Treaty could make people 'feel more divided', Victorian opposition leader says, as Coalition withdraws support". TheGuardian.com.
  54. ^ Rooney, Kieran (28 January 2024). "Pesutto vows to pause and review Suburban Rail Loop". The Age. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  55. ^ Deery, Shannon (27 March 2024). "John Pesutto: Our plan will tackle cost blowouts and misconduct on Victorian major projects". Herald Sun. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  56. ^ Liberal Victoria (26 March 2024). "A new plan to better manage major projects". Liberal Victoria. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  57. ^ Carmody, Broede (21 July 2024). "Premier defends Victoria's CFMEU inquiry and says investigator will have access to senior MPs". The Age. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  58. ^ Liberal Victoria (17 July 2024). "Liberals and Nationals call for Royal Commission into CFMEU misconduct". Liberal Victoria. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  59. ^ Eddie, Rachel; Carmody, Broede (16 January 2024). "Premier 'seeking further advice' on pill testing after overdoses at festivals". The Age. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  60. ^ Eddie, Rachel (11 March 2024). "State stands by plan to raise age of criminal responsibility". The Age. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  61. ^ Pesutto, John (20 May 2023). "Tax Reform for a Stronger, More Sustainable Victorian Economy". John Pesutto. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  62. ^ "John Pesutto". Liberal Victoria. Liberal Party of Australia. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  63. ^ Kapetopoulos, Fotis (20 April 2023). "Victorian Opposition leader John Pesutto: "I am from the Greek parts of Italy, Calabria"". Neos Kosmos. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
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Victorian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Hawthorn
2014–2018 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member for Hawthorn
2022–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition of Victoria
2022–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria
2022–present 		Incumbent
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