World

Australia: Moira Deeming loses Liberal Party endorsement in Victoria

Herz — World Desk · 17 July 2026 at 10:01 · 30s summary · 4 min read

The essentials

On the evening of July 17, 2026, the executive of the Victorian Liberal Party voted, by the required three-quarters majority, to withdraw Moira Deeming's endorsement as a candidate for the state election in November. Deeming loses the top position on the Western Metropolitan region list—a Legislative Council (upper house) constituency covering western Melbourne suburbs—but retains her current seat and party membership. The crisis erupted following Deeming's allegation that her colleague Matthew Guy had physically seized her, which police dismissed after reviewing CCTV footage.

Victorian Liberal executive removes Deeming's endorsement by three-quarters majority.
Opposition leader Jess Wilson supported the removal decision.
Allegation of assault against Matthew Guy produced no charges.
Deeming faces potential bankruptcy over a A$1.55 million loan repayment.
She can run as an independent to retain her seat in November.

Australie : Moira Deeming perd son investiture au Parti libéral de Victoria — NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

What we know

On the evening of July 17, 2026, the governing body of Victoria's Liberal Party—the state executive, composed of elected party representatives and ex-officio members—voted to withdraw Moira Deeming's endorsement as a candidate for the state election in November 2026.

The resolution achieved the required three-quarters majority under party rules. Opposition leader Jess Wilson, herself a member of the executive, supported the decision, according to ABC News.

Deeming loses the top position on the Western Metropolitan region list—one of eight Legislative Council (upper house of Victoria) constituencies covering western Melbourne suburbs, where the lead candidate has the best chance of election under proportional voting. She retains her current seat and party membership.

Unless she runs as an independent in November, she will lose her seat in the election.

The incident that sparked the crisis

The process was triggered by an incident in May 2026. At a community gathering in western Melbourne, Deeming alleged that her Liberal Party colleague Matthew Guy had seized her violently by the head.

Police reviewed CCTV footage and concluded that 'no offence was detected.' Guy and opposition leader Jess Wilson demanded a public apology, which Deeming refused to provide, stating she had acted in good faith.

Deeming's attempts to block the process

On the Wednesday before the vote, Deeming withdrew the Supreme Court injunction she had obtained against party president Brian Loughnane—an action launched to block the disendorsement process. She submitted a 12-page statement to the executive proposing mediation.

These actions were insufficient to convince the executive, which proceeded with the vote.

Context: A long legal saga

The current crisis stems from conflict dating back to 2023. Deeming had participated in a street rally in Melbourne that was infiltrated by neo-Nazi elements. Then-Liberal opposition leader John Pesutto had wrongly suggested she was associated with these individuals, resulting in her exclusion from the Liberal parliamentary party. She launched a defamation case against him.

Deeming won the case: Pesutto was ordered to pay her A$1.55 million in legal costs. In December 2024, Pesutto was removed from party leadership and replaced by Brad Battin, and Deeming was reinstated.

In March 2026, Deeming had been moved from the top position on the Western Metropolitan list by Dinesh Gourisetty, before being restored to it after his removal.

Timeline

2023
Deeming participated in a street rally infiltrated by neo-Nazi elements in Melbourne. Pesutto, opposition leader, wrongly suggested she was associated with these individuals. She was excluded from the Liberal parliamentary party and launched a defamation case.