- (3) Mr Nick Johnston, Director of Communications to Mr Pesutto from 13 March 2023 to 3 March 2024 (CB:36);
- (4) Mr Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez, chief of staff to Mr Pesutto from 13 March 2023 to 3 March 2024 (CB:37; CB:38);
- (5) Mr David Southwick MP, Liberal Member for Caulfield in the Victorian Legislative Assembly and Deputy Leader of the Opposition since December 2022 (CB:39; CB:40);
- (6) Ms Louise Staley, former Liberal Member for Ripon in the Victorian Legislative Assembly and chief of staff to Mr Pesutto since 3 March 2024 (CB:41);
- (7) Mr Alex Woff, Director of Media to Mr Pesutto from 1 March 2023 to 4 March 2024, and Director of Communications to Mr Pesutto since 4 March 2024 (CB:42).
20 Each of them was cross-examined.
THE FACTS
21 Because of the large volume of material that was adduced into evidence, I asked the parties during closing submissions to agree upon a document that set out an Agreed Factual Narrative. This was emailed to chambers after the completion of the trial, but has not yet been electronically filed, and I have used it to assist me, partly, to chart a course through the mountain of evidence.
Mrs Deeming
22 Mrs Deeming was born in 1983 in Timboon, Victoria.
23 She attended a Catholic High School in Beaconsfield, and obtained her Victorian Certificate of Education in 2001.
24 She was awarded a scholarship to study at La Trobe University, and studied there from 2002 to 2005, obtaining a Bachelor of International Relations in 2005.
25 She met her husband in 2003, and they married in October 2005.
26 That same year, or thereabouts, they joined the Liberal Party.
27 In 2006, Mrs Deeming obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma of Education from the University of Melbourne, and from 2006 onwards, she worked at various private and secondary schools, teaching English, Literature, Legal Studies, Philosophy, Science and Psychology. She has four children.
