Deeming's Preselection Battle: Address Mix-Up Sparks Liberal Party Infighting
An eight-minute meeting at a suburban business park in Melbourne's west last month has escalated into a significant flashpoint within the Victorian Liberal party's internal conflicts. The Laverton branch convened for what was intended as a routine vote to elect delegates, who will play a key role in determining whether upper house MP Moira Deeming can secure her candidacy for the party in November's state election.
Allegations of a Fix and Late Arrivals
Supporters of Moira Deeming claim they were provided with an incorrectly formatted address for the 5pm meeting, resulting in them being directed to the wrong location. Upon arriving at the correct venue at 5.01pm, they allege the presiding officer declared he was "locking the doors" and barred them from participation. By 5.09pm, the meeting had concluded, according to a written complaint submitted to the Liberals' state director, Alyson Hannam, and reviewed by media sources.
"It was a fix," asserted one party member who was excluded, suggesting those inside had "already predetermined the outcome." However, three senior Liberal sources, speaking anonymously due to internal party restrictions, present a contrasting narrative. They contend the Deeming supporters were merely late, and even if they had voted, it would not have altered the fact that Deeming lacks the necessary support to win the preselection ballot. "She's toast," one source remarked.
Internal Tally and Political Maneuvering
An internal tally leaked and circulated among MPs this week indicates Deeming's primary challenger, Dinesh Gourisetty, holds a substantial lead. Only 15 votes remain undecided, including 14 from a random pool of members drawn from across metropolitan Melbourne, a group that has been subjected to intense lobbying efforts in recent weeks.
Detractors of Deeming have disseminated a photograph from a 2024 Equal Access for Autism fundraiser, showing her alongside Mick Gatto, an alleged Melbourne underworld figure. This image has gained heightened relevance following the Coalition's recent attacks on the government over Gatto's alleged "malignant influence" on Big Build sites during question time.
In contrast, high-profile conservatives, including media commentator Peta Credlin, have actively campaigned for Deeming. Credlin penned a reference letter praising Deeming as a "rare individual who can unite social conservatives, disaffected Labor types, everyday working-class people who believe in family values but feel abandoned, and the migrant communities of her region." She described Deeming as "tenacious, resilient, and fearless," referencing her "period of persecution" after being expelled from the Liberal party room following legal threats against then-leader John Pesutto, a battle Deeming ultimately won, leading to Pesutto's loss of leadership.
Branch Meeting Concerns and Legal Implications
Deeming has raised concerns with Hannam regarding several branch meetings last month, alleging similar issues such as doors being closed precisely at 6pm at a Kororoit branch meeting and inadequate ID checks at Point Cook, Tarneit, and Werribee locations. She claimed ineligible members were listed as eligible and permitted to vote across multiple branches, requesting these meetings be declared invalid and re-conducted.
Hannam responded, stating she takes these matters seriously and acted within the party constitution based on evidence from "various parties" involved. "With all information I have reviewed, there is no cause for meetings in the Western Metro Region to be re-held," she affirmed. In a recent development, Deeming has involved the entire state executive and her solicitor, Patrick George, in the correspondence, a move that may signal potential legal action. "We are now moving into the fourth year since the campaign to defame and expel me from this party began. Clearly that campaign continues to this day, despite my repeated attempts to resolve it internally," Deeming stated.
The One Nation Factor and Defection Fears
According to the internal party tally, the final undecided vote belongs to opposition leader Jess Wilson, who plans to vote for all sitting MPs in the preselection ballots. Wilson has provided Deeming with a reference letter, describing her as an "articulate and effective advocate for our party's values" in Melbourne's west, a critical battleground for the 2026 state election where the Coalition currently trails Labor by 16 seats.
Recent polling indicates One Nation could pose a significant threat to the Coalition's electoral prospects, with support rising to 24% while the Coalition's vote has declined to 28%. Wilson has ruled out an alliance with One Nation but has not dismissed the possibility of a preference deal, leaving it to the party executive.
A major concern among Liberal MPs is the potential defection of Deeming to One Nation if she loses preselection. While Deeming's supporters insist she is not considering this move, senior Liberal sources speculate her complaints about branch votes may be "laying the groundwork" for such a defection. One Deeming supporter estimated that if she is not reselected, approximately a quarter of active members in the area—responsible for door-knocking, distributing how-to-vote materials, and donations—could depart, potentially joining One Nation and severely impacting the party's election chances.
