Victorian MP Moira Deeming’s bid to rejoin the Liberal party room has been dramatically rejected after a vote ended in a deadlock, with Opposition Leader John Pesutto breaking the tie to keep her on the crossbench. The closely divided result has left the party reeling, with MPs conceding the saga surrounding the controversial MP is far from resolved.
Deeming had been expelled from the Liberal party room in 2023 after attending a rally that was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis. However, she recently scored a major victory when a federal court judge found Pesutto had defamed her by falsely implying she knowingly associated with the far-right extremists.
Buoyed by the ruling, which ordered Pesutto to pay $300,000 in damages, Deeming’s supporters moved a motion on Friday calling for her readmission to the party fold. The hour-long meeting was described as “long and civil” by Pesutto, but ultimately ended in a 14-14 split.
Pesutto Casts Deciding Vote Against Deeming
As Opposition Leader, Pesutto used his casting vote to break the deadlock, ensuring Deeming would remain on the crossbench. He insisted the matter was now resolved, declaring it a “bookend” to the issue.
“This concludes the matter of the membership [of Deeming]. As opposition leader and as alternative premier, our focus is on holding the Allan Labor government to account.”
– Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto
However, the razor-thin margin has left many in the party unconvinced the saga is truly over. Several MPs who supported Deeming’s return described the outcome as deeply unsatisfactory, warning of ongoing turmoil within party ranks.
“Internally Bleeding”: Liberals Divided
Liberal MP Richard Riordan said he was “flabbergasted” by the result, arguing the party was now in a “worse position” due to the unresolved split. His colleague Anne-Marie Hermans went further, claiming the Liberals were “internally bleeding” over the Deeming expulsion.
“I personally don’t think that we have resolved it by having such a close vote, and having a leader having to cast his vote. Internally, within our own party, there are going to be a lot of consequences.”
– Victorian Liberal MP Anne-Marie Hermans
The MPs who moved the unsuccessful motion, including Chris Crewther and Bill Tilley, said the tight result showed Deeming retained strong support within the party. They expressed hope Pesutto might still readmit her unilaterally, but he ruled out any such consideration.
Defamation Ruling Fallout Continues
Pesutto confirmed he would appeal the defamation judgment against him, after consultation with his legal team. The court case, which dominated headlines in the lead-up to Friday’s vote, found he had falsely painted Deeming as a neo-Nazi sympathiser.
The reputational hit for the Opposition Leader has been severe, and surviving the no-confidence motion may provide little reprieve. With the Liberals set to contest byelections in the coming weeks, the ongoing distraction and disunity threatens to cruel their pitch to voters.
For now, the parliamentary stalemate leaves Deeming remaining on the crossbench as a Liberal MP in name only. But with both sides of the debate digging in, the battle for the heart and soul of the Victorian Liberals appears to be only beginning.
