Moira Deeming launches lawsuit against Victorian Liberal president as party meets to decide her future

Liberal MP Moira Deeming has launched an eleventh-hour legal challenge against the Victorian Liberal Party president, Brian Loughnane, just before a crucial meeting to determine her political future. The lawsuit, set to be heard in the Victorian Supreme Court, is the latest development in a contentious period for the party, with the state election looming in November.

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There was no ambiguity. I did not do what was alleged. The CCTV proves this. It did from the start, and Victoria Police agree.

Deeming's legal action comes after she accused former leader Matthew Guy of assaulting her by placing her in a "violently" grabbed headlock at a gala dinner. Victoria Police investigated the complaint but found "no offence detected." Guy has publicly demanded an apology, asserting that CCTV footage supports his claim that no assault occurred. Deeming has since suggested she misunderstood the term "headlock" but has refused to apologize.

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I think he deserves an apology. That is the right thing to do, and Moira has decided that’s not the case. And now the state executive will meet.

The internal conflict has intensified as party executives, including Loughnane, are scheduled to meet to decide on Deeming's candidacy. Opposition leader Jess Wilson has stated that Guy deserves an apology, a stance Deeming has not taken. Meanwhile, Pauline Hanson of One Nation has declared she would not offer Deeming a position, citing her refusal to apologize as a sign of an inability to admit fault.

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You don’t do that to your fellow colleagues.

Political scientist Zareh Ghazarian described the situation as a critical juncture for the Liberal leadership, emphasizing the need to resolve internal problems quickly. He noted that the ongoing scandal has consumed significant political coverage and has "hobbled the party significantly." Deeming's lawyer, Tim Houweling, maintained that his client's complaint was made "honestly, in good faith and only as a matter of last resort," referencing CCTV footage that he claims shows Guy maintaining a grip on Deeming as she tried to pull away.

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This is arguably the most critical point for the Liberal leadership right now to clear their internal problems. This has to be resolved as quickly as possible because it’s already taken up a lot of political coverage … it has hobbled the party significantly.