Harry Potter author JK Rowling salutes Moira Deeming after defamation win

Moira Deeming’s defamation win against embattled Liberal leader John Pesutto has gone viral across the world, with Harry Potter author JK Rowling highlighting the stunning legal coup to her 14.2 million social media followers.

In a post to X, Ms Rowling congratulated Ms Deeming with a set of clapping hands emojis following the ruling from Federal Court Justice David O’Callaghan, which found Mr Pesutto had defamed Ms Deeming as a Nazi sympathiser after she attended a rally critical of transgender beliefs.

“The ‘right side of history’ is racking up a hell of a lot of losses recently, isn’t it?” Ms Rowling posted.

“Congratulations Moira Deeming.”

Justice O’Callaghan found Mr Pesutto defamed Ms Deeming in radio interviews, a press conference and in Liberal Party documents by conveying she knowingly associated, or sympathised with, neo-Nazis and white supremacists.

He awarded her $300,000 in damages.

The furore kicked off after Ms Deeming, a former schoolteacher, attended a Let Women Speak rally in Melbourne hosted by British women’s rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen, also known as Posie Parker.

Some neo-Nazis gatecrashed the rally.

Ms Deeming was then defenestrated from the Liberal Party room.

She is now a Independent Liberal MP, but said after the ruling she was open to returning to the Liberal fold.

“This judgment is a public acknowledgment that there was never any justification – legal, moral or political – for what the Opposition Leader (Pesutto) did to me and to my family,” Ms Deeming said after the ruling.

“The organisers and attendees of the 2023 Melbourne Let Women Speak rally did nothing wrong and it is shameful that they were treated without fairness or respect by so many in public office.

“I will continue to fight for the rights of parents, women and children and I know I won’t be alone.”

Reaction to the decision has exploded across social media since Thursday.

In a post to X, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for Ms Deeming to be readmitted to the Party room.

“Moira Deeming has been vindicated by the Federal Court,” he said.

“No Liberal should ever be in trouble for standing up for the rights of women and girls.

“She should now swiftly be readmitted to the party room.”

Indigenous leader Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO said the ruling showed Mr Pesutto was an “incompetent politician” and “unfit to lead”.

“He’s shown he will let his political opponents set his agenda rather than put up with leftist taunts on social media,” he said.

“As Justice O’Callaghan described it, he had a ‘preoccupation’ with (former Victorian Labor premier) Dan Andrews’ political acumen.

“Pesutto should have a preoccupation with listening to regular people and speaking to their concerns.

“Rather than stand by Moira Deeming, he slandered her with falsehoods. Pesutto and his leadership team were like seagulls scurrying around after chips that Labor tossed on the beach.”

Mr Pesutto, responding to the ruling, said he respected the court’s decision.

“I do accept the court has delivered this decision, as disappointing as it is,” he said.

“I do wish to emphasise though for all Victorians, that I’ve always been a fighter.

“I’ve always been a fighter for the right reasons and for the right people, the Victorian people.

“And that’s why I will continue in this role.”