MEDIATION between the Victorian Opposition Leader and a former Liberal MP threatening him with defamation action has failed to reach an outcome.<\/p>\n
John Pesutto told ABC Radio Melbourne he spent about three hours in mediation with Moira Deeming on Tuesday afternoon, also his birthday.<\/p>\n
He said it was a constructive discussion and the pair had “narrowed” on some issues.<\/p>\n
“Mediation’s always a challenging process but I thought we made progress,” Mr Pesutto said.<\/p>\n
He said lawyers for both sides would continue negotiations.<\/p>\n
Ms Deeming was expelled from the parliamentary party earlier this year following her participation in an anti-transgender rally which was gate crashed by a group of masked men who performed Nazi salutes.<\/p>\n
She has issued several defamation concerns notices to Mr Pesutto relating to comments he made after the event.<\/p>\n
The claims include that he publicly accused her of being a Nazi sympathiser and associate, and that he used the allegation to bully and threaten her with expulsion.<\/p>\n
Mr Pesutto has denied he accused the now independent MP of being a Nazi or having Nazi sympathies.<\/p>\n
Last week, UK anti-trans rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen also issued defamation concerns notices to Mr Pesutto, deputy-leader David Southwick, upper house leader Georgie Crozier and deputy upper house leader Matt Bach.<\/p>\n
Mr Pesutto did not reveal whether his party would cover his legal costs, describing the situation as “uncharted territory”.<\/p>\n