Sam Groth resigns from Victorian shadow cabinet after John Pesutto refuses to resign following libel loss

In a statement released on Friday, the Liberal MP said he could not “in good conscience” continue in his role as shadow minister for sport, tourism and youth after Mr Pesutto’s decision to hang on to the party leadership after Thursday’s defamation defeat.

“At all times in my life, both professionally and personally, I have believed in acting with integrity,” he said.

“It is with regret that following the judgment rendered yesterday by the Federal Court against John Pesutto and his subsequent decision to remain Liberal leader, I have decided to resign from his seats.

“In good conscience, I cannot continue to occupy this role.

“My loyalty remains to the members of the Liberal Party, the people of my electorate of Nepean and all Victorians.

“I will continue to represent them and work alongside my colleagues to develop the vision and policies we will carry through to the November 2026 elections.

“I will make no further public comments at this time.”

Mr Groth, the shadow sports minister, was one of 19 Liberal MPs who voted to expel Ms Deeming from the Liberal party hall in May after she interrupted her family holiday in Fiji to return and participate in the vote.

The Liberal MP has made his leadership ambitions clear and is one of three Liberal Party members rumored to be vying for the role of state opposition leader, alongside Brad Battin and Chris Crewther.

Mr. Battin said Friday evening that Mr. Groth’s resignation did not indicate that a leadership reversal was imminent.

“I won’t say that necessarily means there will be a challenge in the near future, but it does mean we need to have a discussion within the party to build, unite and make sure we can deliver a great future for the future,” he added. ” he told Sky News host Steve Price.

Independent MP Moira Deeming won her high-stakes legal battle against Mr. on Thursday, when Justice David O’Callaghan found the Opposition Leader had defamed the expelled Liberal MP in comments he made in the days following a “Let the Women Speak” rally Ms. Deeming attended in March. 18, 2023, which was invaded by neo-Nazis.

The judge awarded Ms Deeming $300,000 in damages when he handed down his ruling in the Federal Court in Melbourne.

Mr. Pesutto held a news conference Thursday after the ruling and refused to respond to calls for him to step down after the fallout from the high-stakes defamation case.

The court’s decision comes after senior figures in the Victorian Liberal Party said Mr Pesutto’s position was “untenable” and called for him to resign in October.