“It is uncontroversial that the purpose of a cost order is not to punish the unsuccessful party,” Legge said.

Pesutto’s lawyer, Daryl Williams KC, has requested a pause of 21 to 28 days on paying the full amount. This delay is sought to allow time for a possible review of the registrar’s ruling.

Deeming’s barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC opposed the move, with the court expected to return on this afternoon to deal with the issue.

According to the Herald Sun, Pesutto is in talks with the Cormack Foundation, a significant financial supporter of the Liberal Party, to assist in covering these legal expenses.

After losing the defamation trial, Pesutto lost the leadership in a spill and Deeming was welcomed back to the party room.

His replacement Brad Battin indicated the party wasn’t preparing for a by-election in Hawthorn and said it was up to the secretariat to decide whether to bail out Pesutto.

“We don’t need a candidate at the moment,” the state opposition leader told ABC Radio Melbourne.

“We’ve got John Pesutto, who is the member for Hawthorn, and if everything goes in a direction I would like to see John Pesutto will be there at the next state election.

“But we’ll keep those conversations internal – people aren’t interested in what’s happening inside the Liberal Party.”

Battin sparked internal backlash in April when he promoted Deeming to become his “representative to the western suburbs” amid her continued legal battle with Pesutto.