Deeming controversy reignites as police clear Guy of assault
The Victorian Liberals are once again embroiled in a damaging internal dispute involving controversial upper house member Moira Deeming, who has accused former leader Matthew Guy of placing her in a headlock at a community function in May. Police investigated the incident, captured on video, and announced last week that no offence had been committed. Guy has demanded an apology, but Deeming refuses, claiming she misunderstood the technical meaning of headlock.
Deeming's history of disruption
This is the latest chapter in what has been dubbed the “Doings of Deeming.” Her 2023 appearance at an anti-trans rally she partly organized, which neo-Nazis attended, led to then-leader John Pesutto losing his position after a defamation action from Deeming. She lost preselection in March but was later restored. The ongoing saga distracts from the opposition’s attack on a struggling government ahead of the November state election.
Consequences loom as party seeks action
Victorian shadow attorney-general James Newbury on Tuesday foreshadowed consequences for Deeming. “I expect and I think the team expects action to be taken,” he said. “I think any good person would have apologised.” Speculation suggests Deeming may be deselected, but tough action could make her a martyr, or push her to One Nation, as Colleen Harkin recently did. One Nation sources are cautious, indicating Deeming may be too hot for them to handle.
State election prospects complicated
Despite the infighting, leader Jess Wilson has put the Liberals in contention for a strong result, though winning 16 extra seats for majority government remains a long shot. One Nation is a fresh complication. The blow-up over a minor incident underscores the difficulty of keeping the dysfunctional Victorian division on track even with a prize in sight.
Federal Liberals also struggle with infighting
At the federal level, the party has indulged in a pile-on after shadow minister Melissa McIntosh suggested a “rebrand.” Frontbenchers and federal president Tony Abbott immediately rejected the idea. Abbott said it “would hardly be the Liberal Party if it weren’t the Liberal Party.” Home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam argued, “People don’t care about the outside packaging, they want the contents of the box.” Industry spokesman Andrew Hastie likened the Liberal brand to Coca-Cola, saying, “I would be very hesitant about walking away from the Liberal Party as a brand.” Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson stated, “The best word we have is Liberal, because it speaks to a sense of hope.”
McIntosh defends her call for change
McIntosh stuck to her position, saying her community in Penrith has asked, “What’s the Liberal Party doing?” She noted, “We were the Howard battlers, the Menzies forgotten people, and we’re Tony Tradies. When the heartland tells you to get more cut through, you need to listen.” However, she has not fleshed out an alternative brand, leaving the proposition looking like another desperate cry.
