In a sudden reversal of fortune controversial Victorian MP Moira Deeming has secured the top spot on the Liberal ticket for the western metropolitan region at the November election.
On Sunday party members opted to dump the first term MP in favour of moderate candidate Dinsesh Gourisetty. But Gourisetty withdrew his candidacy the following day after it was revealed that he had suppled a character reference for a man who was convicted of a child sex crime.
The party ran the process a second time, and despite there beginning with more candidates in the race than the first time round, Deeming ended up being pre-elected unopposed.
When the party reopened the nomination process Deeming and fellow incumbent MP Trung Luu were not required to renominate. Three other members reportedly threw their hats in the ring, but one was ruled ineligible and the other two withdrew their nominations ahead of the vote.
Luu also withdrew from running for the top spot, he had already secured the second position on the party’s ticket. Deeming has declined to comment to media on the re-run process.
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.
