Moira Deeming, a Victorian Liberal MP, has stated she misunderstood the technical meaning of the term 'headlock' but will not apologise to her colleague Matthew Guy over an assault allegation. The incident, which occurred at a Macedonian community event in Sunshine, Melbourne in May, led Deeming to report to police in June that Guy had placed her in a form of headlock.
Police Investigation and CCTV Footage
Police confirmed on Thursday, after reviewing CCTV footage, that their investigation concluded with no offence detected. Deeming's lawyer, Tim Houweling of Cornerstone Legal, said in a statement on Monday that Deeming had only viewed the CCTV footage after it was released to the media. Houweling emphasised that Deeming, who is currently overseas, conceded she misunderstood the technical meaning of 'headlock' but maintained she used the term in good faith to describe the incident.
“She accepts that she misunderstood the technical meaning of the term ‘headlock’, but maintains that she used it in good faith to describe what happened,” Houweling said. “Without attributing motive to the other party, our client maintains that from her perspective this physical contact by a senior male colleague in the workplace was unexpected, unwelcome, physically painful and caused her to feel fear and confusion.”
Deeming's Refusal to Apologise
Houweling made clear that Deeming would not apologise for making what has been described as a 'false complaint' to Victoria Police. “She will not apologise for something she has not done,” he said. “Our client instructs us to make clear that she categorically rejects any suggestion that her complaint was falsely made and considers any such allegation to be entirely without foundation and highly defamatory.”
Deeming's complaint was made as a last resort after unsuccessful attempts to resolve the incident through the Liberal party's internal processes. Houweling noted that her intention was to handle the matter confidentially and appropriately, rather than through media or public commentary.
Impact of Past Trauma
Houweling also highlighted that the incident was exacerbated by Deeming's prior history as a victim of rape and sexual abuse, and her PTSD from that and recent events. “She considers it deeply regrettable that this matter was not able to remain within the Party’s confidential processes and that it has instead become the subject of public commentary, causing unnecessary distress to all those involved,” he said. Deeming is set to meet with senior Liberals to work towards an internal resolution.
Matthew Guy's Response
On Friday, a visibly emotional Guy called on Deeming, Premier Jacinta Allan, and Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny to apologise. “My family name, my reputation is not a political toy. No one’s is. So I want – and my family deserve – those apologies, particularly from Moira Deeming,” he said. “There was no ambiguity. I did not do what was alleged, the CCTV proves this. It did from the start, and Victoria police agree.”
Earlier in the week, Kilkenny questioned whether it was appropriate for a member of the opposition caucus to remain in the party room while subject to a police complaint. Allan later supported Kilkenny's comments, saying they go to the heart of Liberal party leadership. Guy claimed these comments told every Victorian male over 40 they don't have your back. “To Aussie males who are sick of this treatment, who are sick of not being believed, some of us in parliament still have your back. I have your back,” he said.
Premier's Stance
On Monday, Allan said she would not apologise to Guy, stating there was “nothing to apologise for” and that Wilson still had questions to answer regarding the “chaos and dysfunction in her Liberal Party party room.”
