The Victorian Liberal Party state executive has officially revoked Moira Deeming’s endorsement as a candidate for the upcoming November state election. The decision follows a tense stand-off regarding the MP's refusal to apologize for assault allegations she made against a parliamentary colleague, Matthew Guy. While Deeming will remain a member of the Liberal Party and continue her duties as a member of the Legislative Council in the interim, she will no longer represent the party on the ballot for the Western Metropolitan region.
The conflict centered on an incident at a community event in May, where Deeming alleged that Guy had grabbed her in a headlock. Following a review of CCTV footage, police concluded that no offense had been committed, as the video showed Guy placing his hand on Deeming's shoulder during a conversation. Despite the findings, Deeming maintained that she had experienced pain and distress, though her legal team later stated she had misunderstood the term headlock. The party leadership had requested a full apology from Deeming to resolve the matter, which she declined to provide.
Earlier this week, Deeming withdrew a Supreme Court challenge that had temporarily blocked the party from moving to disendorse her. By dropping the legal action, she allowed the state executive to proceed with the vote, which resulted in a unanimous decision to remove her as a candidate. The party stated that it considers the matter resolved and is now focused on its campaign strategy for the November election.
This development marks another chapter in a turbulent period for the Victorian Liberal Party and Deeming, who has previously faced internal disciplinary actions and legal disputes. For the public, the move signals a clear attempt by the party to move past internal friction and present a unified front to voters. Deeming has indicated she will continue her work in parliament, but her future within the party structure remains a point of significant interest.