John Pesutto

New Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto is regarded as a moderate. Is that what his past shows?

But while he is referred to as a moderate by supporters, his critics question whether it is an appropriate label for Pesutto, who in the past worked with right-wing think tank the Institute of Public Affairs. [Sign up here](https://www.theage.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p57ogt). [Clay Lucas](/by/clay-lucas-hved8)is a senior reporter at The Age, who has covered urban affairs, state and federal politics, workplace issues, health and aged care. [the controversial Howard government WorkChoices era](https://www.theage.com.au/national/workplace-law-still-loathed-poll-20070326-ge4ihz.html). Prior to being elected leader, Pesutto said he wanted to give Victorians the option of a Coalition government “that actually manages the state more prudently. But looking forward over the next four years, it’s going to be more important than ever that we have a [Liberal Party] that is applying proper scrutiny.” “Access to basic healthcare [and] managing infrastructure projects, so we’re not seeing $30 billion worth of blowouts into the future. My mum was a machinist, at McArthur’s shoe factory in Traralgon,” Pesutto told The Age last week. [regained the blue-chip electorate of Hawthorn last week](/link/follow-20170101-p5c2lx) after losing it in 2018. He was also an adviser to Ted Baillieu before replacing him as MP for Hawthorn in 2014. [to win back Hawthorn](https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/inside-hawthorn-20221018-p5bqv7.html) and only narrowly defeated Labor incumbent John Kennedy and teal independent Melissa Lowe. “I’m one of five kids who was born in Traralgon.