No outcome after mediation between Pesutto and Deeming

MEDIATION between the Victorian Opposition Leader and a former Liberal MP threatening him with defamation action has failed to reach an outcome.

John Pesutto told ABC Radio Melbourne he spent about three hours in mediation with Moira Deeming on Tuesday afternoon, also his birthday.

He said it was a constructive discussion and the pair had “narrowed” on some issues.

“Mediation’s always a challenging process but I thought we made progress,” Mr Pesutto said.

He said lawyers for both sides would continue negotiations.

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.

She has issued several defamation concerns notices to Mr Pesutto relating to comments he made after the event.

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.

Mr Pesutto has denied he accused the now independent MP of being a Nazi or having Nazi sympathies.

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.

Mr Pesutto did not reveal whether his party would cover his legal costs, describing the situation as “uncharted territory”.

– RACHAEL WARD/ AAP