The Victorian Liberal Party is facing divisions over the expulsion of MP Moira Deeming, with her supporters disrupting Opposition Leader John Pesutto’s speech at the party’s state conference. The small group of around a dozen people chanted “shame” and held up signs during Pesutto’s address, while others in the room gave him a standing ovation. Deeming, who now sits in the upper house as a crossbench MP, is taking defamation action against Pesutto. The Liberal state council was meeting in Bendigo for the first time since Deeming was ousted from the parliamentary party room. The opposition had hoped to focus attention on Victoria’s upcoming budget, which is expected to be filled with serious spending cuts in a bid to pay down state debt.
Background
Deeming’s expulsion came after a public stoush with Pesutto following her attendance at an anti-trans-rights rally gatecrashed by neo-Nazis. After her expulsion, Pesutto said he wanted to draw a line in the sand under the matter and focus the party’s attention on issues relevant to voters. But Deeming, who has flagged a defamation lawsuit against Pesutto, last weekend said she felt “completely betrayed” by the expulsion and had no plans to hand in her Liberal Party membership.
Divisions within the Party
Deeming’s supporters disrupted Pesutto’s speech at the party’s state conference, with some calling for him to resign and be replaced by Berwick MP Brad Battin. Several members walked out of the address, saying they were from the western metropolitan region Deeming represented and were “disgusted” by the way she had been treated by the party. Victorian Liberal Party president Greg Mirabella told those gathered the party “had to change” and unite if it wanted to win office again, taking aim at those who took internal party grievances to the media.
Conclusion
The divisions within the Victorian Liberal Party over the expulsion of Moira Deeming have spilled into the party’s state conference, with her supporters disrupting Opposition Leader John Pesutto’s speech. While some members gave Pesutto a standing ovation, others audibly scoffed as he urged the party to be inclusive and welcoming. The opposition had hoped to focus attention on Victoria’s upcoming budget, but the disruptions show that the party is still grappling with internal divisions. Party president Greg Mirabella has called for unity and for members to stop taking internal grievances to the media.
Source: abc.net.au
