Can the Victorian Liberal Party avoid falling apart again?

As Australia united around its national soccer team, the Victorian Liberal Party was embroiled in yet another internal conflict, threatening to derail its prospects. Controversial MP Moira Deeming accused former leader Matthew Guy of assaulting her at a function, alleging he placed her in a headlock. However, CCTV footage appeared to contradict her claims, and a police investigation concluded there was no case to answer against Guy, who maintained his innocence throughout.

“

They can come to me the honourable and easy way or the hard way.

Visibly shaken, Guy held a press conference demanding a public apology from those who politicized the incident. He stated that his family also deserved apologies. Meanwhile, support is growing among some party members for Deeming's removal from the party room, while Guy is reportedly considering legal options regarding the allegations.

A senior Liberal anonymously commented that Deeming's position is untenable. The ongoing saga highlights the party's struggle to shift focus from internal animosity to addressing voters' needs, particularly as they have a genuine chance of winning office in the upcoming November elections after 12 years in opposition. Despite being 'tarred with the same brush' in the public eye, this particular controversy is largely confined to one MP's allegations.

“

My wife, my sons, my parents, my brother, my cousins, my family who share my name, deserve those apologies as well.

Some MPs view this latest crisis as a potential 'godsend,' believing it could unify the party room. After significant electoral defeats in 2018 and 2022, there is a palpable desperation to change public perception and a recognition that unity is crucial for success. Leader Jess Wilson faces a significant test in managing the fallout, balancing support for Guy's request for an apology with the need to address resentment among MPs who feel uncomfortable associating with Deeming following the dismissal of her claims.

“

Her position is untenable.

This situation echoes past internal conflicts, notably when former leader John Pesutto lost his position after attempting to remove Deeming from the party room, a move that led to her successfully suing him for defamation after he linked her to neo-Nazis. The opposition faces a delicate balancing act, needing to respond in a legally and politically sound manner without appearing to discipline a woman for making an assault allegation. The prevailing view among Liberals is that Pesutto's previous expulsion attempt was not sufficiently rigorous.

“

We are more united than ever, and we are not prepared to let anything stand in our way.