Moira Deeming will contest Victoria’s November state election as a Family First candidate after being removed from the Liberal ticket, saying she has no regrets about accusing former colleague Matthew Guy of putting her in a “headlock”.
The former Liberal MP announced on Thursday that she had joined the conservative minor party and would stand as its lead candidate for the Western Metropolitan Region in the Legislative Council.
Family First national director Lyle Shelton said the party’s federal executive had endorsed Ms Deeming, describing her as a “courageous” parliamentarian with the “resilience and tenacity” to represent families in Melbourne’s west.
Moira Deeming defends Matthew Guy allegation
Ms Deeming was disendorsed by the Victorian Liberal Party in July after refusing to apologise to Mr Guy, a former party leader, over the allegation relating to an event in Melbourne’s western suburbs in May.
Victoria Police dropped its investigation after reviewing CCTV footage of the incident. The footage appeared to show Mr Guy briefly placing a hand on Ms Deeming’s shoulder and leaning towards her to speak in a crowded room.
At a press conference announcing her move to Family First, Ms Deeming acknowledged that she had used “one little phrase inaccurate” when describing the incident as a headlock. She said an arm clinch or collar tie would have been more technically precise.
“All I was trying to do is say it felt like some kind of headlock,” she said. “I don’t know what it was. It really did hurt. It really did frighten me, and he had no right to put his hand on me.”
She also disputed the status of the footage that had been made public, saying it was not the “official footage” of what had occurred.
Mr Guy has denied wrongdoing and called for an apology. The Liberal Party’s decision to remove Ms Deeming from its election ticket followed a prolonged dispute over the allegation and her refusal to withdraw it.
Ms Deeming later left the Liberal Party and now sits as an independent member of Victoria’s upper house. The Liberals have selected Melbourne deputy lord mayor Roshena Campbell to replace her on the Western Metropolitan ballot.
The dispute is the latest episode in several years of turmoil surrounding Ms Deeming’s political career. She was expelled from the Liberal party room in 2023 after helping organise a rally that was later attended by neo-Nazis, and subsequently won a defamation case against former Liberal leader John Pesutto.
She was readmitted to the party under Mr Pesutto’s successor, Brad Battin, before the latest breakdown in relations.
Family First bid in Western Metropolitan Region
Ms Deeming said she had been approached by “three or four” other parties but was “delighted” to join Family First. She said the party shared her priorities of protecting children and restoring “sex-based rights” for women and girls.
Family First supports tighter restrictions on abortion and gender-affirming care, opposes Drag Queen Storytime events and has campaigned against proposals to ban parents from smacking their children.
The party received 3.05 per cent of first-preference votes in the Western Metropolitan Region at the 2022 election, according to Victorian Electoral Commission figures. Ms Deeming was elected to the region as a Liberal after receiving 24.1 per cent of first-preference votes.
If she succeeds in November, Ms Deeming would become the first Family First member elected to the Victorian Parliament.
Pauline Hanson previously ruled out recruiting Ms Deeming as a One Nation candidate, citing the allegation against Mr Guy and her refusal to apologise. The Victorian election is due to be held on November 28.
