A group of Liberal MPs is pushing to spill the leadership team as early as Tuesday at a partyroom meeting, citing damage wrought by his high-stakes defamation trial with ousted first-term MP Moira Deeming.
Berwick MP Brad Battin, former tennis star-turned-Nepean MP Sam Groth and opposition environment spokesman James Newbury have been touted as potential leaders in waiting.
Former state treasurer Kim Wells, who gave evidence against Mr Pesutto during the Federal Court trial, told Nine News he was considering a request from colleagues who had approached him to run.
Kim Wells says he has been approached by colleagues to throw his hat into the leadership ring. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the embattled Victorian Liberal leader said he had not spoken to Mr Wells but would endeavour to do so before Tuesday.
Unlike Mr Wells, the other three rumoured leadership contenders are members of Mr Pesutto's shadow cabinet.
Mr Pesutto ruled out dumping any "wreckers" from his frontbench if he manages to keep the wolves from the door.
"Reprisals are not in my nature and I will not be looking at that," he said at parliament on Wednesday.
"I want the team to be functioning at its very best because we've got a responsibility and a great opportunity to provide Victoria with better leadership."
Mr Pesutto denied he or his staff were working on a colour-coded spreadsheet indicating how Liberal MPs would vote in the event of successful motion to suspend standing orders and spill the leadership.
Opposition energy spokesman David Davis wouldn't say whether he was calling Liberal colleagues to rally support for Mr Pesutto but offered an endorsement of sorts.
"He's doing a fine job," he said.
Mr Pesutto's leadership has been damaged by his defamation battle with Moira Deeming. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Mr Pesutto's tenure as leader has been marred by the long-running defamation battle with Mrs Deeming, triggered by comments he made after she attended a rally in March 2023 that was gatecrashed by men in black who performed the Nazi salute.
In September, the court heard a colour-coded spreadsheet was created by Mr Pesutto's staff ranking how each MP was expected to vote on his original motion to expel Mrs Deeming.
Closing submissions for the trial are scheduled to be heard across three days from October 22.
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