The Victorian Liberal party's internal warring will be laid bare on Friday when MP's meet to decide if exiled member Moira Deeming can be re-admitted to the party room. The meeting will be a proxy vote on the future of John Pesutto's leadership.
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00:00These five Liberals want expelled MP Maura Deeming back in the party room.
00:07They're rocking a boat that's ready to tip.
00:10Ms Deeming won her defamation suit against leader John Pursuto last week.
00:14Now the group has called for a vote to readmit her, saying it would right any injustices
00:18and put an end to the sorry chapter.
00:21This motion could trigger a move on John Pursuto's leadership, but at this stage his supporters
00:25and even his detractors believe he still has the support of a majority of MPs.
00:30Regardless, it gives agitators a chance to tell their donors and branch members angry
00:34at Ms Deeming's treatment that they tried to right a wrong.
00:37It comes just days after first term MP Sam Groth resigned from the frontbench in a move
00:42against Mr Pursuto.
00:43This is a deeply divided party, which is distracted once again from the task of holding the government
00:49to account.
00:50MPs are beyond frustrated.
00:52On the frontbencher, James Newbury has called for every Liberal to focus on kicking out
00:56rotten Labor so that we can fix our state and make it safe again.
01:00Others deny this is about leadership, but if Maura Deeming is reinstated, John Pursuto's
01:05authority will be further diminished.
01:07She was initially suspended for her involvement with an anti-trans rights rally, and was then
01:11expelled after making legal threats against Mr Pursuto.
01:14MPs say it was suing the leader that made and keeps her position impossible.
01:19In the new year, voters will get a say on Mr Pursuto's leadership at twin by-elections
01:23in Paran and Werribee.
01:25He needs to do well to keep the naysayers at bay.
01:28The rise of independents and small parties could make life difficult.
01:31I'm going to throw my hat in the ring, run as an independent.
01:34Paul Hopper is working to set up a new West party, but first he'll run in the Werribee
01:38by-election.
01:39Someone needs to stand up for the tribe out here in the West.
01:42For too long it's been ignored.
01:43There's a litmus test too for Jacinta Allen.
01:46While outgoing Treasurer Tim Pallis held the seat comfortably, even the most optimistic
01:50Labor folk are bracing for a big backlash.
01:53And the West is an area the Liberals must win if it's to seize office in two years.