Outspoken Liberal MP wins spot in election-ticket twist
An outspoken state Liberal MP previously expelled from his party has made a shocking comeback after winning a bitter civil war.
Moira Deeming took the top spot on the party’s Victorian upper house ticket for the Western Metropolitan Region after other candidates dropped out of the race.
He had earlier dropped his candidacy after the party ignored businessman and Indian community leader Dinesh Gourisetty, who had support from the party’s moderate wing.
But he was forced to step aside after it was revealed he had provided a character reference for a previously convicted child sex offender, triggering another primary contest.
Ms. Deeming was the only remaining suitable candidate for the position.
On Sunday he thanked everyone who supported him, including the state’s Liberal leader Jess Wilson, and added that he looked forward to exposing “Labour’s callous betrayal of hard-working families” ahead of the November election.
“When we win, I will work tirelessly to restore good governance to this great state of Victoria,” he told AAP.
The outspoken politician has repeatedly made headlines since being pre-selected by the party in 2022.
The former high school teacher was suspended from the Liberals after attending a 2023 Let Women Speak rally that was raided by neo-Nazis.
He was later expelled from the Liberal party room after threatening to take legal action against then leader John Pesutto.
It was revealed that the former party boss had slandered himself by implying that he was involved with neo-Nazis and was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal fees.
Ms Deeming was readmitted to the parliamentary party in December 2024 and elected as the party’s representative for Melbourne’s western suburbs.
He offered to delay part of Mr. Pesutto’s bill in exchange for conditions, including a primary, but the offer was rejected.
The provincial Liberals’ executive committee agreed to lend Mr. Pesutto $1.55 million to settle his debt to Ms. Deeming and avoid bankruptcy.
The loan has sparked an ongoing legal challenge from a group of separatist Liberals.
