Victorian Liberals in disarray as frontbencher resigns amid growing calls for embattled leader John Pesutto to resign after smear

The Victorian Liberals have been thrown into further disarray, with a shadow cabinet member quitting the front bench after Opposition Leader John Pesutto refused to resign.

Sam Groth, a first-term MP touted as a future leader, announced late on Friday that he could not continue with his youth, tourism, sports and events portfolios.

“Following yesterday’s Federal Court judgment against John Pesutto and his subsequent decision to remain as Liberal leader, I have decided to resign from his front bench,” the 37-year-old Nepean MP said in a statement.

Mr Groth, a former professional tennis player who retired after the 2018 Australian Open, gave no indication he planned to challenge Mr Pesutto but told the Herald Sun in July he wanted to become prime minister.

His decision to resign has divided party members, with some praising him and others critical of the move.

A Liberal MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, questioned whether Mr Groth had enough experience to take on the top job.

“He has no hope of getting the numbers, I know that. (Berwick MP) Brad (Battin) is likely to rise to the top,” they said.

“I think Brad will be there and John will eventually have to resign. It’s just getting too hard.’

Victorian MP Sam Groth (pictured with wife Brittany) has stepped down from the Opposition front bench after party leader John Pesutto refused to resign over defamation losses

Mr Pesutto (left) was found to have defamed Liberal MP Moira Deeming after making comments about her after she attended a rally in 2023

Another Liberal MP praised Mr Groth for resigning and encouraged anyone with “irreconcilable differences” with Mr Pesutto to follow suit.

“If you feel the same way, don’t be so soft, but take a leaf from Sam,” they said.

‘I fear for Sam… my concern for him is that he has been sold a puppy by other people who revolve around him, because those people who revolve around him have more interest in killing John than in supporting Sam .’

A third Liberal MP said Mr Groth may not have so much gone out of limb as ‘tripped over his shoelaces’.

“Sam said at the election that he was ‘ready to serve’… he may have made a double mistake,” they said.

Questions were raised about the viability of Pesutto’s leadership after Judge David O’Callaghan awarded $300,000 in damages to former Liberal MP Moira Deeming on Thursday.

Mr Pesutto made defamatory comments in media interviews and a party expulsion motion following a March 2023 meeting that Ms Deeming attended.

But the opposition leader doubled down on his decision not to resign on Friday and instead urged the party to move on.

Ms Deeming (pictured on Thursday) was awarded $300,000 in damages on Thursday

“I was always determined to continue to lead,” he told reporters.

His refusal did not stop Liberal MP Bev McArthur from suggesting there may be a leadership leak, stating that if Pesutto is confident in his position ‘he can test it’.

AAP has been told that five or six Liberal MPs must sign paperwork and submit it to the party chamber secretary to call a special meeting.

There is a waiting period of five working days before such a meeting can take place.