The Victorian Liberal Party's state executive has voted to disendorse Moira Deeming as a candidate for the upcoming state election, following her withdrawal of a last-minute legal challenge against the party earlier this week.
At a meeting on Friday afternoon, the executive decided to cancel Deeming's endorsement as the number one candidate for the Western Metropolitan Region in the November election. A party statement confirmed the decision, thanking Deeming for her service and considering the matter resolved.
Political Future in Jeopardy
The disendorsement places Deeming's political career at risk. While she remains in the opposition party room, she will lose her seat after the November election unless she runs as an independent. Guardian Australia has contacted Deeming for comment.
Deeming announced on Wednesday that she had withdrawn her Supreme Court challenge against party president Brian Loughnane, which sought to prevent the party from taking action against her following an incident in May involving fellow Liberal MP Matthew Guy.
Altercation with Matthew Guy
Deeming, an upper house member for the Western Metropolitan Region, had accused Guy of grabbing her “violently” in a headlock but later said she misunderstood the term. CCTV footage from a May function showed Guy placing his hand on Deeming's upper back as they leaned in to speak. Police investigated and found “no offence detected”.
Guy told reporters in June that Deeming owed him a public apology, stating he “vehemently denied that anything untoward took place”. He added, “Moira Deeming owes me a public apology. I’m owed an apology by the premier and the attorney-general.”
Mediation Proposal and Legal Withdrawal
On Wednesday, Deeming sent a 12-page statement to the state executive, proposing mediation to end the Supreme Court action. She said, “The state executive, having all the evidence before them, can now decide whether to pursue mediation or reconvene to disendorse me.” She noted that being overseas and unwell when the story broke prompted her to seek an injunction to review facts and learn the difference between a headlock and a collar-tie grip.
Deeming had attempted to block the party from voting to drop her as a candidate during a one-day trial at the Supreme Court last Friday, but the legal action was officially withdrawn earlier this week.
History of Controversy
Deeming's first term in Victorian parliament has been marked by controversy. Elected in 2022, she was expelled from the party room in 2023 after attending a rally gatecrashed by neo-Nazis. She successfully sued former leader John Pesutto for defamation after he wrongly implied she was associated with neo-Nazis at that rally. Deeming was readmitted to the Liberal party in December 2024 after Pesutto was replaced as leader by Brad Battin.
Earlier, Deeming had been ousted from the number one spot in March by Dinesh Gourisetty, before he was subsequently dumped.
