Moira Deeming, the ousted Member of Parliament, will not be readmitted to the parliamentary wing of the Victorian Liberal Party after her bid to return was rejected during a recent voting round. The decision, characterized by significant disagreement within the party, ended with a 14-14 deadlock, forcing party leader John Pesutto to make the deciding vote, which he utilized to break the tie and deny Deeming's reinstatement.
On what was described as a tense and somber day within the party room, the motion calling for Deeming's return fell short of the 16 votes needed for success. Pesutto stated after the vote, "This concludes the matter," indicating the finality of the decision. He added, "It was a long discussion, and everybody who wanted to speak had the opportunity to address their points of view on the matter." This concluded the tense week wherein five Liberal MPs—Bill Tilley, Richard Riordan, Renee Heath, Joe McCracken, and Chris Crewther—co-signed the motion advocating for Deeming's reinstatement, arguing her expulsion was fundamentally flawed.
The backdrop of this vote is complex. Deeming was expelled from the parliamentary party back in March 2023 after her involvement at an anti-trans rights rally, which was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis. Her expulsion came after she threatened legal action against Pesutto and followed her recent victory in court, where she won damages for defamation against the leader of the Victorian Liberals, deemed by the court to have implied she was unfit to remain within the party.
Reacting to the failure of the motion to reinstate her, Deeming expressed disappointment and labeled Pesutto’s vote as effectively voting twice to block her reentry, criticizing him for having what she called "a significant personal conflict of interest". "I will get the apology that's owed to me and … it is only a matter of time before I return to the party room," Deeming said defiantly, demonstrating her belief in her right to be reinstated.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott also voiced his concerns about the vote's outcome, calling it "shameful" and questioning the integrity of the proceedings. He took to the social media platform X to express his views, saying, "How can someone elected as a Liberal be expelled on the basis of a lie and not be readmitted once the truth is there for all to see? Especially right before Christmas, the season of goodwill, this is truly contemptible failure to act with honour and decency."
Others within the party echoed Deeming's sentiments. Richard Riordan, one of her staunch supporters, said he was "flabbergasted" by the 14-14 result, emphasizing the internal strife and lack of unity within the party. "We are in a worse position than we were to start with; it's not resolved, our party room is split down the middle," he remarked, highlighting the discord this issue has introduced to the party's future.
The internal rift has raised questions about the leadership of Pesutto, with the atmosphere during the meeting described as tense, and several MPs indicating uncertainty about their party's direction following this latest episode. Shadow Cabinet Secretary Ann-Marie Hermans indicated the split decision means the matter remains unresolved, and more work lies ahead for the party to maintain unity moving forward.
Despite the political turbulence, Pesutto expressed confidence, declaring the issue settled and shifting focus toward upcoming by-elections in Werribee and Prahran. Yet the fallout from this vote, especially after such damaging allegations against him, continues to loom over his leadership.
Deeming, on the other hand, seems ready to engage with the future prospects of her political career as she maintains her status as a member of the broader Liberal Party. While she celebrates her defamation victory, the reality of her situation within the party remains unchanged for now. "I have every right to be there, I did nothing wrong," she reiterated, emphasizing her belief of innocence against the accusations made against her, which she maintains were disproven through her court victory.
Looking onward, it is clear the divisions within the Victorian Liberal Party have been exposed as deeply rooted, and how they navigate the aftermath of Deeming's ousting will reveal much about the party's health and leadership dynamics. With reactions swirling and perspectives clashing, the road to unity will demand considerable effort from all quarters as they attempt to address the fissures caused by this controversy.
