The Victorian Liberals have voted to expel Moira Deeming from the party room during a 90-minute meeting of MPs this morning.
Deeming, who is the member for the state’s Western Metropolitan Region, will now become an independent MP in the upper house as she serves the remaining three and a half years of her parliamentary term.
Deeming had narrowly avoided an attempt in March by Opposition Leader John Pesutto to expel her over her attendance at an anti-trans rally co-opted by neo-Nazi figures, when she was instead suspended from the party room for nine months, but today was expelled after making legal threats against Pesutto.
MPs voted 19-11 in favour of her expulsion.
Speaking after the meeting, Pesutto said Deeming wasn’t expelled due to her personal views and insisted it was due to the Liberals wanting to be a united party, but said her legal threats were a contributing factor.
“I don’t think that sat well with people in the room,” he said.
“I think people understood that to be a party, you cannot really have such litigation between members for the same party room.”
“You cannot sue your boss and expect to keep your job,” he said.
“Suing your party and your leader is a gross act of betrayal, but we are moving forward united as a team.”
Deeming had threatened to sue Pesutto last week after he didn’t make a statement refuting the Nazi affiliation claims she alleges were made against her.
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Pesutto confirmed today he has engaged lawyers to respond to Deeming’s legal action.
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Liberal MP Sam Groth said the expulsion provided a chance for the party to move forward.
“I think it’s a real chance to draw a line in the sand for the party now,” he said.
“We’ve had a meeting, we’re going to move forward.
“We’re going to get behind John, and I think it’s a chance for us now, as I’ve said right from the start of this whole drama, it’s time for the Liberal Party to start being a viable option.”
In addition to expelling Deeming, the party also voted to sanction Renee Heath, an ally of hers.
Heath was stripped of her party secretary position, with Trung Luu replacing her.
Questioned about his leadership given 11 of 30 MPs voted opposite him to keep Deeming in the party, Pesutto insisted the support for him was strong.
I am very comfortable with the level of support I had today,” he said.
“There were 19 votes in favour, 11 against. That is a strong endorsement of a process that was very difficult but it was very challenging.”
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