Moira Deeming Could Retain Liberal Ticket Spot After Preselection Rerun
Moira Deeming may hold onto the top position on a Victorian Liberal ticket following a significant preselection mishap, as a rerun ballot is scheduled with a tight 36-hour nomination period that has ignited accusations of a 'stitch up' within party ranks.
Preselection Chaos and Eligibility Issues
Initially, Deeming was removed from the number one spot for the western metropolitan region by Dinesh Gourisetty in a Sunday ballot. However, by Monday night, the Victorian Liberal party executive decided to conduct a fresh preselection after Gourisetty was found ineligible to stand as a candidate in the November state election. This ineligibility stemmed from a character reference he provided for a friend convicted of sexually assaulting a child.
Philip Davis, the party's president, informed members via email late Tuesday night that nominations would open immediately and close at midday on Thursday, allowing only a brief window for potential challengers to prepare.
Claims of a 'Stitch Up' and Factional Tensions
Anonymous Liberal members have expressed frustration, suggesting the short nomination timeframe is deliberately designed to prevent new candidates from entering the race. Since Deeming and fellow upper house MP Trung Luu, who both participated in Sunday's ballot, do not need to renominate, some insiders believe this move aims to secure Deeming's position by default.
One moderate Liberal member stated, 'What they want is for no one else to nominate so Moira gets it by default without a preselection convention.' They added that the same delegates from the initial vote, most of whom supported Gourisetty, would be involved again, potentially leading to another loss for Deeming if a convention occurs.
Another member highlighted the challenges of the accelerated process, noting that candidates must work intensively to compile a detailed application typically requiring up to a week. This includes obtaining references from at least two individuals, ten signatures from eligible party members, a national police check, a credit report, and completing an 18-page questionnaire covering sensitive topics like past drug use or dating app activity. Additionally, a $5,000 application fee is required, most of which funds an external vetting consultancy—a process now under review after failing to flag Gourisetty's issue.
Procedural Adjustments and Party Dynamics
A party figure, speaking anonymously, mentioned that there was an initial proposal for a 24-hour nomination window, but it was extended to 36 hours to ensure applicants could at least initiate their police and credit checks. According to the party's constitution, any candidate who applied for Sunday's preselection and has not withdrawn is automatically considered for endorsement in the rerun.
Deeming, currently on personal leave until after Easter, and Luu have been approached for comment. Despite the controversy, several Liberals, including some of Deeming's critics, anticipate she will be re-endorsed in an effort to quell the factional disputes threatening party unity ahead of the November election.
Nevertheless, senior party figures have been actively encouraging prospective candidates to nominate, indicating ongoing internal efforts to ensure a competitive process. This situation underscores the deepening divisions within the Victorian Liberal party as it navigates a turbulent preselection landscape.
