Moira Deeming

Australian politician

Moira Deeming

MLC

Deeming in 2019

Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Western Metropolitan Region

Incumbent

Assumed office
26 November 2022
Councillor of the City of Melton
In office
5 November 2020 – 21 December 2022
Succeeded by| Justine Farrugia
Constituency| Watts Ward
Personal details
Political party| Liberal
Other political
affiliations| Independent Liberal
(2023–2024)
Children| 4
Education| La Trobe University
Occupation|

* Politician

Moira Deeming is an Australian politician and member of the Victorian Liberal Party. She has been a member of the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house of the Parliament of Victoria, for the Western Metropolitan Region since November 2022. She previously sat as a councillor for the Melton City Council representing the Watts Ward.

Deeming is known for her views on transgender people. On 18 March 2023, she spoke at an anti-trans rally, which she helped organise, outside of the Victorian Parliament. The rally was attended by a neo-Nazi group who repeatedly performed Nazi salutes from the steps of Parliament.

Following Deeming's participation in the rally, then-leader of the opposition John Pesutto announced that he would move to have her expelled from the parliamentary Liberal Party. On 27 March 2023, Deeming was suspended from the parliamentary Liberal Party for nine months. After repeated legal threats against Pesutto, she was indefinitely expelled from the parliamentary party room on 12 May 2023. In December 2024 the Federal Court ruled that Pesutto had defamed Deeming by suggesting that she associates with Nazis. Deeming was readmitted to the parliamentary Liberal Party on 27 December 2024.

## Early life, personal life and education

[edit]

In Deeming's maiden speech in the Legislative Council, she said that she was "born and bred on the political left coming from a long line of union leaders, card-carrying Labor Party members, and Labor MPs".[1] Her great-grandfather, John Joseph Holland, was a Labor MP for more than thirty-five years and a City of Melbourne councillor.[1]

Deeming identifies as Māori and a Presbyterian.[2][3] She attended the Catholic high school St. Francis Xavier College, and received Bachelor of International Relations from La Trobe University and a Post-Graduate Diploma of Education from the University of Melbourne.[4][5] Deeming previously worked as a teacher for over a decade.[2]

## Political career

[edit]

During the 2014 Victorian state election, Deeming stood as a candidate for the Liberal Party for the seat of St Albans in the lower house. She secured 26.9% of the vote, losing to the Labor Party's Natalie Suleyman.[6] At the 2018 state election Deeming stood as a candidate for the Liberal Party for the upper house Western Metropolitan Region seat in the Victorian Legislative Council. She received 356 first preference votes (0.08%) and failed to gain a seat.[7]

Deeming stood as a candidate for Watts Ward at the 2020 Melton local election on 24 October, receiving 21.49% of the primary vote and successfully securing the second allocation.[8][9] Following the 2022 Australian federal election, it was reported in The Age that on 26 March the Victorian Liberal Party's administrative committee voted for Deeming to run in the lower house seat of Gorton.[10] Before she was able to be endorsed, a top party official relayed the view of, then Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison's Office that "negative media coverage of Deeming's hard-line social views could distract" from Morrison's campaign.[10] Subsequently, another vote was held and a different candidate was picked.[10]

On 23 July 2022, Deeming was endorsed by the Liberal Party to contest the upper house Western Metropolitan Region seat in the Victorian Legislative Council to replace Bernie Finn at the Victorian state election.[11] Her preselection was considered controversial because she replaced the similarly right-wing Bernie Finn at the top of the Liberal ticket, following Finn's expulsion from the Liberal Party after making "inflammatory social media posts".[11] Finn, who contested the election as a Democratic Labour Party candidate, was reported to be "delighted" at Deeming's preselection.[12] Andrew Elsbury, a moderate Liberal Party member who held the seat from 2010 to 2014 quit the party in response to her preselection, describing it as the "final straw".[13] Deeming was subsequently elected to the Legislative Council.[14]

### Anti-trans rally

[edit]

Members of the National Socialist Network performing Nazi salutes on 18 March 2023

On 18 March 2023, Deeming spoke at an anti-trans rally in Melbourne, which she co-organised with British anti-transgender rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull.[15][16][17] The rally was also attended by the neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network (NSN) and its leader Thomas Sewell.[16][17] The neo-Nazis repeatedly engaged in Nazi salutes and carried far-right extremist banners (including one that compared transgender people to paedophiles), which sparked clashes with counter protesters who attended the rally.[18][19] Deeming later said that she had noticed the neo-Nazi group, but said she was told there was "nothing [they] could do" about their presence, and that she "just got back to [the] rally". She denied seeing the group perform salutes.[20] She also said that she struggles to remember the anti-trans rally she helped organise.[15]

In a public statement Liberal opposition leader John Pesutto described Deeming's position as "untenable" due to her "involvement in organising, promoting and participating in a rally with speakers and other organisers who themselves have been publicly associated with far right-wing extremist groups including neo-Nazi activists".[18] Pesutto then moved to expel her from the party.[18] MPs Brad Battin and Richard Riordan supported her and attempted to delay a vote on expelling her by a week, but failed, losing the vote 18 to 11.[21] It was reported that Deeming was also supported by Chris Crewther, Matthew Guy, Bill Tilley, David Hodgett, and Ann-Marie Hermans.[21] After failing to delay a vote on Deeming's expulsion, Liberal MPs lobbied Pesutto for a less severe punishment over her role in the rally.[22] Deeming subsequently accepted a nine-month suspension from the party as an alternative to expulsion.[23] The compromise came after Deeming issued a private statement in the party room, condemning Keen-Minshull's previous use of a Barbie wearing a Nazi uniform on her social media as a "poor distasteful joke".[23]

During Deeming's suspension, she threatened party leader Pesutto with legal action, but backed away after a fresh attempt was made to oust her from the party.[24] This second effort was led by former party leader Matthew Guy.[24]

### Expulsion from the Liberal Party party room, legal action and re-admission

[edit]

Deeming again threatened the Liberal Party leader by sending a letter reiterating the threat of a defamation case.[25] On 12 May 2023 she was expelled from the parliamentary party room by 19 votes to 11.[26][16] Despite her expulsion, Deeming reaffirmed that she would never quit or resign from the party. In an interview with Sky News Australia's Peta Credlin, Deeming stated that she had been "betrayed" by the party and "relentlessly hunted" out of the party room following the anti-trans rally.[27] As a result of Deeming's expulsion, she then sat as an Independent Liberal.[28]

In December 2023, after months of attempted mediation failed, Deeming filled a civil complaint against Pesutto.[29][30] Deeming stated that she had been falsely accused of being an associate of "neo-Nazi sympathisers and extremists",[28] had been defamed by Pesutto in media releases, a press conference and broadcast interviews. Pesutto denied her claims, stating that he had never called her a "neo-Nazi, white supremacist or anything similar". Pesutto's statement of defence however alleged that Deeming had failed to distance herself from people who had associated with people from the far-right.[30]

During a hearing of the case in September 2024, the court played a secretly recorded audio of a meeting between Deeming, Pesutto, and Pesutto's leadership team,[31][32] which immediately followed the anti-trans rally and was recorded by David Southwick, Pesutto's deputy.[31][32] Deeming was lectured for her role in the rally and for having champagne afterwards with Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull.[31] Deeming's lawyer in court said that the meeting was a "pile-on" and that a decision had already been made to remove her from the party.[32]

In December 2024 the Federal Court ruled that Pesutto had defamed Deeming. Pesutto was ordered to pay $300,000 in damages.[33] As a result of her win, Deeming stated that she expected to be able to return to the parliamentary party room.[34] On 20 December 2024, the Liberal party room voted down a proposal to readmit Deeming to the party room. The vote was 14–15, with Pesutto's final vote defeating the motion.[35] On 22 December, Pesutto called for a Liberal party room meeting scheduled on 15 January 2025 to discuss his motion to readmit Deeming, stating that an "absolute majority" now existed to do so. He apologised to Deeming for defaming her, but Deeming said that she learned about the apology from media.[36] On 27 December there was another motion to spill the leadership in the Victorian Liberal Party and readmit Deeming, the latter of which passed.[37]

On 16 May 2025, the Federal Court ordered Pesutto to pay $2.3 million in costs to Deeming,[38] which he failed to do, and on 6 June 2025 Pesutto was served with a bankruptcy notice.[39] Deeming offered to delay the payment on the condition that her preselection for the 2026 state election was guaranteed by the Victorian Liberal Party. An additional offer was made by Deeming's supporter Hilton Grugeon, who offered to loan $1.5 million to Pesutto on the conditions that Deeming's preselection was guaranteed and that, if Pesutto challenged for the leadership of the Liberal party, the loan would immediately be withdrawn, potentially leading to Pesutto's bankruptcy and removal from parliament. Pesutto refused this deal.[40] Deeming's offer was refused by the party which provided Pesutto with a loan of $1.55 million to cover his legal costs.[41][42] Deeming expressed dismay at the loan which she described as "against the grain of everything we believe as Liberals".[41]

## Political views

[edit]

Deeming is well known for her anti-trans views.[43] In her maiden speech before the Legislative Council, Deeming stated that she was against Victoria's Safe Schools program, transgender people accessing toilets corresponding to their gender, and the decriminalisation of sex work.[44][45] Deeming has described Safe Schools as "sleazy" and created by "paedophilia apologists".[13][43] In 2020 she described the "watch and wait" approach for treating gender dysphoria as "highly successful, low risk"[46]—in line with the Victorian Liberal Party's approach that opposes gay conversion therapy, but at the same time the Andrews' government legislation "allows government interference in the relationships between medical professionals and patients", and "unfairly targets psychiatry and psychotherapy specifically".[47]

Deeming, described as an anti-abortion, believes that laws legalising abortion need to be repealed, and thinks that rape victims should reject abortions and turn to the church.[43][48][14] She is against voluntary euthanasia.[14] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Deeming was against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and considered vaccine passports immoral and a form of segregation.[49] As of September 2021 she said in an interview that she was unvaccinated, waiting, and reserving her judgement due to concerns.[50] Deeming is against changing the date of Australia Day.[11] She is a member of the conservative think-tank Institute of Public Affairs.[51]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Powell, Mark (27 February 2023). "Moira Deeming: Former 'Labor Party Princess'". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
2. ^ a b "Cr Moira Deeming". www.melton.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
3. ^ King, Charlotte; Burns, Andy (7 November 2022). "Religious right roadmap to Liberal Party control revealed as internal ructions over church groups increase". ABC News. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
4. ^ "Principles over Principals". IPA – The Voice For Freedom. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
5. ^ "Moira Deeming". Liberal Victoria. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
6. ^ "St Albans District". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
7. ^ "2018 State election results". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
8. ^ "Melton City Council election results 2020". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
9. ^ 2020 Local government elections: Melton City Council Election Report (PDF) (Report). Victorian Electoral Commission. 19 April 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
10. ^ a b c Sakkal, Paul (27 July 2022). "State Liberal candidate was deemed 'too extreme' for Scott Morrison's campaign". The Age. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
11. ^ a b c Graham, Jackson (23 July 2022). "Liberals choose councillor with controversial trans views to replace Bernie Finn". The Age. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
12. ^ Elliott, Tom (25 July 2022). "'Delighted' Bernie Finn reacts to his Liberal Party replacement". 3AW. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
13. ^ a b Kolovos, Benita (29 July 2022). "'In the past': Matthew Guy dismisses concerns over Victorian Liberal candidate's attacks on transgender rights". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
14. ^ a b c Rogers, Destiny (19 March 2023). "Vic Libs to expel Moira Deeming over anti-trans rally". QNews. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
15. ^ a b "Ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming takes to the stand in defamation trial". The Age. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
16. ^ a b c Kohn, Peter (12 May 2023). "Victorian Liberals expel Moira Deeming". The Australian Jewish News. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
17. ^ a b "Activists expose disturbing past of young Aussie neo-Nazi". News.com.au. 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
18. ^ a b c Kolovos, Benita (20 March 2023). "Moira Deeming vows to fight expulsion push over involvement in protest attended by neo-Nazis". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
19. ^ "Liberal MP set to be expelled over role in violent Melbourne anti-trans rally". Seven News. 19 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
20. ^ Ore, Adeshola (18 September 2024). "Moira Deeming 'determined to be brave' by attending controversial rally despite safety threats, defamation trial hears". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
21. ^ a b Ilanbey, Sumeyya; Carmody, Broede; Abbott, Lachlan (21 March 2023). "Bid to delay expulsion of Deeming fails as details of Pesutto's motion revealed". The Age. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
22. ^ Ilanbey, Sumeyya (22 March 2023). "Liberals fight for Deeming reprieve as anti-trans rights saga splits party". The Age. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
23. ^ a b Ilanbey, Sumeyya; Eddie, Rachel; Smethurst, Annika (27 March 2023). "Deeming spared expulsion after plea to colleagues and Pesutto backflip". The Age. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
24. ^ a b Ilanbey, Sumeyya (6 May 2023). "Deeming backs down from legal threats as Liberals set date for her expulsion vote". The Age. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
25. ^ Smethurst, Annika; Carmody, Broede (11 May 2023). "Deeming fires off defamation threat to Pesutto". The Age. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
26. ^ Ilanbey, Sumeyya; Carmody, Broede (12 May 2023). "Liberal MPs vote to expel Deeming". The Age. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
27. ^ McMillan, Ashleigh (14 May 2023). "'Relentlessly hunted': Defiant Deeming says she was done over by Liberals". The Age. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
28. ^ a b Schmidt, Nathan (20 November 2023). "Controversial MP Moira Deeming to sue Liberal leader after party expulsion". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024. "Victoria Independent Liberal MP Moira Deeming has expressed her gratitude to the state Liberal Party for supporting her push for an inquiry into gender-affirming care for children."
29. ^ "Victorian MP Moira Deeming lodges defamation suit against former boss John Pesutto". ABC News. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
30. ^ a b Silva, Kristian; Willingham, Richard (2 February 2024). "John Pesutto 'not concerned' as legal battle with Moira Deeming heads to Federal Court trial". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
31. ^ a b c Meehan, Melissa (17 September 2024). "Deeming quizzed about gender views in defamation trial". Northwest Star. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
32. ^ a b c Smethurst, Annika (17 September 2024). "'I'm not a Nazi': Inside the room where senior Liberals 'piled on' Moira Deeming". The Age. Archived from the original on 2 October 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
33. ^ Eddie, Rachel (17 April 2025). "Deeming promoted, stoking tensions over Pesutto's fate". The Age. Archived from the original on 17 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
34. ^ Asher, Nicole; Wong, Leanne; Willingham, Richard (12 December 2024). "Moira Deeming wins defamation case against John Pesutto, judge orders $300k in damages". ABC News. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
35. ^ Kolovos, Benita (20 December 2024). "Victorian MP Moira Deeming won't return to Liberal party room after motion fails". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
36. ^ Willingham, Richard (22 December 2024). "Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto apologises to Moira Deeming, calls new vote". ABC News. Archived from the original on 22 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
37. ^ Boaz, Judd; Willingham, Richard (27 December 2024). "Victorian Liberals replace John Pesutto with Brad Battin as leader". ABC News. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
38. ^ Willingham, Richard (16 May 2025). "Supporters raising funds to protect Liberal MP John Pesutto from bankruptcy". ABC News. Archived from the original on 25 May 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
39. ^ Darling, Alexander; Carmody, Broede (7 June 2025). "Former Victorian opposition leader John Pesutto served bankruptcy notice". The Age. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
40. ^ Grand, Chip Le (18 June 2025). "This developer wants to keep Pesutto on a leash. What's worse, Liberals are entertaining the idea". The Age. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
41. ^ a b Belot, Henry; Kolovos, Benita (19 June 2025). "Victoria Liberals bail out John Pesutto with $1.5m loan to avoid bankruptcy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
42. ^ Willingham, Richard; Yu, Andi (19 June 2025). "Victorian Liberals vote to save John Pesutto from bankruptcy". ABC News. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
43. ^ a b c Thomas, Shibu (22 February 2023). "Liberal MP Moira Deeming Uses First Speech To Victorian Parliament To Air Anti-Trans Views". Star Observer. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
44. ^ Carmody, Broede (21 February 2023). "New Liberal MP uses maiden speech to slam equality 'taken to extremes'". The Age. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
45. ^ Kolovos, Benita (24 July 2022). "Victoria health minister accuses Liberals of selecting anti-abortion Bernie Finn 'clone'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
46. ^ Deeming, Moira (20 August 2020). "The cultural juggernaut of transgender ideology: not kids' stuff". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
47. ^ "The Liberal Nationals strongly oppose barbaric LGBT conversion and suppression practices" (Press release). Liberal Party (Victoria). 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
48. ^ Snowden, Angelica (18 April 2023). "Suspended Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming battles for 'sex-based rights'". The Australian. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
49. ^ Oliver, Sarah (20 December 2021). "Councillors speak openly against mandates". Melton & Moorabool Star Weekly. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
50. ^ Live Talk with Canada: Moira Deeming (Video). 9 September 2021. 21 minutes in. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022 – via YouTube.
51. ^ "Primary Returns 16 January 2023 – Register of Interests" (PDF). Parliament of Victoria. 16 January 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Current members of the Victorian Legislative Council

Labor (15)|

* Ryan Batchelor
* John Berger
* Lizzie Blandthorn
* Enver Erdogan
* Jacinta Ermacora
* Michael Galea
* Shaun Leane
* Tom McIntosh
* Harriet Shing
* Ingrid Stitt
* Jaclyn Symes
* Lee Tarlamis
* Sonja Terpstra
* Gayle Tierney
* Sheena Watt

Coalition (14)|

| Liberal (12)|

* Georgie Crozier
* David Davis
* Moira Deeming
* Renee Heath
* Ann-Marie Hermans
* Wendy Lovell
* Trung Luu
* Bev McArthur
* Joe McCracken
* Nick McGowan
* Evan Mulholland
* Richard Welch

|

National (2)|

* Melina Bath
* Gaelle Broad

|

Greens (4)|

* Katherine Copsey
* Sarah Mansfield
* Aiv Puglielli
* Anasina Gray-Barberio

Legalise Cannabis (2)|

* David Ettershank
* Rachel Payne

Others (5)|

* Jeff Bourman (Shooters, Fishers, Farmers)
* David Limbrick (Libertarian)
* Georgie Purcell (Animal Justice)
* Adem Somyurek (Independent)
* Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell (One Nation)

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