Five Victorian Liberal MPs have signed a statement calling for the return of exiled party member Moira Deeming.
The move comes after Deeming won a defamation case against Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto on Dec. 12.
The Federal Court of Australia found Pesutto had defamed Deeming by alleging links to Nazis, after a number of young men in black, who performed Nazi salutes, gate-crashed a “Let Women Speak” event.
“Let Women Speak” is a pro-women’s rights movement who argue against transgender people entering women’s fields (sports) and spaces (like bathrooms).
Media reports of the event had linked Deeming to the gate-crashers, despite Deeming denying she had any connection to them.
She was later expelled from Victoria’s Liberal Party, but remains an “Independent Liberal.”
On Dec. 17, MPs Bill Tilley, Richard Riordan, Renee Heath, Joe McCracken, and Chris Crewther signed a statement calling for Deeming’s return to the party.
The statement calls for a vote to be held that would give party members the “chance to do the right thing” and “put behind us any injustices that have occurred since March 2023.”
“It’s a simple matter of fairness. As Justice O'Callaghan’s judgement makes clear, the justification put to the party room for Moira Deeming MP’s expulsion was fundamentally flawed,” the statement says.
“Liberal Party members, and indeed all Victorians, expect their elected Liberal members to act with integrity and to do right by our colleagues as we would by the state.
“A vote for this motion would show that we take these expectations seriously.”
The five MPs said Deeming’s expulsion was a “sorry chapter” they looked forward to closing.
“The Victorian people need strong and cohesive Liberal representation more than ever before, as debt and crime spiral out of control and the cost-of-living crisis is becoming unbearable for so many Victorians,” the statement concluded.
In the wake of the court’s decision that saw Pesutto ordered to pay $300,000 in damages to Deeming, questions were also raised about his leadership.
However, the state party leader told media he had no intention of leaving, and believed the party should “move on.”
“I always had a determination to continue to lead,” he said.
Pesutto’s refusal to resign triggered the resignation of front bench shadow cabinet member and former tennis professional Sam Groth.
Groth, who had been touted as a potential future party leader, announced on Dec. 13 he could not continue with his portfolios for youth, tourism, sport and events.
Deeming’s office was contacted for comment.
