Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has admitted she misunderstood the technical meaning of the term 'headlock' but will not apologise to her colleague Matthew Guy over the allegation he assaulted her. The controversy stems from an incident at a Macedonian community event in Sunshine, Melbourne, in May, which Deeming reported to police in June.
Police Investigation Concludes No Offence
Deeming alleged that Guy, the opposition's public transport spokesperson, placed her in a form of headlock. However, CCTV footage of the event was circulated on Thursday, and police confirmed that evening that their investigation had concluded with no offence detected. In a statement released on Monday, Deeming's lawyer, Tim Houweling of Cornerstone Legal, said her complaint was based on her own recollection and that she viewed the CCTV footage for the first time after it was released to media.
Deeming's Explanation and Stance
Houweling stated that Deeming, who is currently overseas, conceded she misunderstood the technical meaning of 'headlock'. 'She accepts that she misunderstood the technical meaning of the term ‘headlock’, but maintains that she used it in good faith to describe what happened,' he said. He added that Deeming maintains the physical contact by a senior male colleague in the workplace was unexpected, unwelcome, physically painful, and caused her to feel fear and confusion.
Houweling emphasised that Deeming would not apologise for making what has been described as a 'false complaint' to Victoria Police. 'She will not apologise for something she has not done,' he said. 'Our client instructs us to make clear that she categorically rejects any suggestion that her complaint was falsely made and considers any such allegation to be entirely without foundation and highly defamatory.'
Internal Resolution Attempts
According to Houweling, Deeming's complaint was made only as a last resort after unsuccessful attempts to resolve the incident through the Liberal party's internal processes. 'Throughout the process, her intention was to deal with the matter confidentially, appropriately and in the appropriate way, rather than through the media or public commentary,' he said. Houweling noted that the incident was exacerbated by Deeming's prior history of being a victim of rape and sexual abuse, and having PTSD from that and from events over the past three years. Deeming will meet with senior Liberals to work towards an internal resolution.
Guy's Demand for Apology
On Friday, a visibly emotional Guy called on Deeming, Premier Jacinta Allan, and Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny to apologise. 'My family name, my reputation is not a political toy. No one’s is. So I want – and my family deserve – those apologies, particularly from Moira Deeming,' he said. 'There was no ambiguity. I did not do what was alleged, the CCTV proves this. It did from the start, and Victoria police agree.'
Political Fallout
Earlier in the week, Kilkenny questioned whether it was appropriate for a member of the opposition leader's caucus to be in the party room when subject to a police complaint. Allan later told reporters that Kilkenny's questions 'go to the heart of the leadership of the Liberal party'. Guy claimed the premier's and attorney general's comments 'told every Victorian male over 40 they don’t have your back'. 'To Aussie males who are sick of this treatment, who are sick of not being believed, some of us in parliament still have your back. I have your back,' he said.
On Monday, Allan said she would not apologise to Guy as there was 'nothing to apologise for' and that Wilson still had questions to answer on the 'chaos and dysfunction in her Liberal Party party room'.
