On Sunday the Victoria Liberal party picked Dinesh Gourisetty to be their candidate for the Western Metropolitan Region at the upcoming state election, dumping controversial first-term MP Moira Deeming.
Now in a surprise turn of events Gourisetty has withdrawn his candidacy after it was revealed he gave a character reference to a now convicted child sex offender.
In August 2024 Gourisetty provided a character reference to Kashyap Patel, who was described as a “good friend” and fellow Liberal party member. Patel was convicted on charges of grooming, sexual assault and transmitting indecent communication to a child under 16.
The revelation and decision of Gourisetty to step down from being a candidate has plunged party officials into crisis talks and may potentially open a pathway for Deeming to return as the party’s candidate.
One Nation say Deeming would be welcome in their party
The decision to nominate Gourisetty over the incumbent Deeming has renewed speculation that the conservative MP might defect to One Nation.
One Nation state president Warren Pickering has described Deeming as a courageous politician and said she’d be welcome in his party
“Moira is a woman of great substance that has fought courageously and made great personal sacrifice for both the Liberal party, and the people of west metro,” he said.
“Regardless of the direction the Liberal party of Victoria has chosen to take, we’d hate to see Moira left in the same political wilderness with which the party itself has chosen to explore.”
Deeming is a first‑term parliamentarian who has used much of her time in parliament to focus on curtailing transgender rights and recognition.
In 2024 she successfully sued the party’s then‑leader John Pesutto for defamation following comments he made about her participation in organising a public event on the steps of Parliament House that featured British provocateur Kellie‑Jay Keen.
Pesutto subsequently resigned as the party’s leader and came close to falling into bankruptcy, which would have made him ineligible to continue in parliament. The party lent him $1.5 million to help pay the associated $2.3 million in legal costs, but that move is now subject to a court challenge from Liberal Party members.
Under Pesutto’s replacement Brad Battin, Deeming was appointed to the role of “leader’s representative for the Western Suburbs,” but new leader Jess Wilson removed the position and opted to leave Deeming on the backbench.
Deeming’s pitch for a second term came with some high‑profile backers, including former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Sky News presenter Peta Credlin.
Victorians will go to the polls on 28 November, where the Labor government led by Jacinta Allan will be seeking to win a fourth consecutive four‑year term.
