Victorian MP Moira Deeming Addresses 'Distractions' Amid Deepening Party Rift

Victorian MP Moira Deeming has issued a public apology to her supporters, acknowledging that a series of internal party disputes and legal challenges have created significant "distractions" from her core legislative duties. The apology comes as Ms. Deeming navigates a highly contentious battle to retain her preselection for the upcoming state election.

In a video shared across her social media platforms, Ms. Deeming expressed gratitude to those who have stood by her. "I hope you know you can still trust me," she stated, before addressing the ongoing turmoil. "I think it's time that I address the fact that there have been so many distractions, so many huge distractions that have taken away from the work that you as my constituents and Victorians really needed to be done. I am genuinely so, so sorry that all of these things over the past three and a half years have happened."

Preselection Battle Reaches Supreme Court

The MP's apology follows her recent legal action against her own party. The Liberal Party state executive had reportedly planned to vote on revoking Ms. Deeming's preselection last Friday. This move was prompted by her refusal to apologise to former Opposition Leader Matthew Guy after Victoria Police dismissed her claim that he had placed her in a 'headlock'.

Ms. Deeming successfully sought and obtained a two-week reprieve from the Supreme Court, temporarily halting the party's executive decision. A one-day trial is now slated for later this month, where Ms. Deeming intends to argue that the party's efforts to remove her have denied her procedural fairness, despite her having been invited to address the party executive.

The 'Headlock' Allegation and Aftermath

The core of the dispute with Mr. Guy stems from an incident on May 23 at a community function in Sunshine. Ms. Deeming had alleged that Mr. Guy placed her in a headlock. However, a review of CCTV footage by Victoria Police indicated that Mr. Guy appeared to place his hand on Ms. Deeming's shoulder during a conversation within the crowded Macedonian event, not a headlock.

While Ms. Deeming, through her lawyer, later conceded that she misunderstood the precise meaning of the word "headlock," she has maintained her refusal to issue an apology for what she asserts was an allegation made in good faith. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has publicly backed Mr. Guy's demands for an apology, and Mr. Guy himself has reportedly left open the possibility of pursuing defamation action.

Ongoing Legal Challenges and Party Divisions

This is not Ms. Deeming's first foray into legal action against party leadership. Earlier in the current term, she successfully sued then-leader John Pesutto for defamation.

Regarding the current Supreme Court dispute over her preselection, Ms. Deeming indicated that mediation was underway behind the scenes. However, sources within the Liberal Party have reportedly dismissed any suggestion of mediation, expressing a strong determination to proceed with her removal as a candidate.

Documents released by the court reveal Ms. Deeming's request to bar four members of the state executive from ruling on her preselection, citing concerns of actual or perceived bias due to their non-factional alignment with her. She also contended that she should have first been subject to an internal party disciplinary process.

Reflecting on the turbulent period, Ms. Deeming described it as "an emotional, confusing and exhausting few years." She added, "The simple fact is that things go wrong in life and you have to just pick yourself up and keep going forward. That's what I intend to do." Reports indicate that over the weekend, Ms. Deeming contacted some of her parliamentary colleagues to express regret over initiating the latest Supreme Court action.