Victorian Liberal preselection battle for Western Metropolitan Region upper-house ticket
Consensus Summary
The Victorian Liberal Party’s preselection battle for the Western Metropolitan Region upper-house ticket saw Moira Deeming emerge victorious after a series of dramatic twists. Initially endorsed in 2024, Deeming was sidelined when Dinesh Gourisetty, an Indian community leader, won support from the party’s moderate wing. However, Gourisetty’s disqualification due to a character reference for a convicted child sex offender forced a re-run contest. With other candidates withdrawing or being ruled ineligible, Deeming secured the top spot unopposed. The process was criticized as rushed and potentially rigged, with sources alleging the party intentionally limited new candidates. Deeming, who was previously expelled from the party over controversies involving neo-Nazi associations and legal battles with former leader John Pesutto, has since returned and is now set to contest the November election. The party’s internal strife and the controversial preselection process highlight deep factional divisions ahead of the vote.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Moira Deeming won the Victorian Liberal Party’s top spot on the upper-house ticket for the Western Metropolitan Region after all other candidates withdrew.
- Dinesh Gourisetty, an Indian community leader and businessman, was initially endorsed for the same position but withdrew after it was revealed he provided a character reference for a now-convicted child sex offender.
- The Victorian Liberal Party held a re-run preselection contest after Gourisetty’s disqualification, with nominations opening on Tuesday night and closing at midday Thursday.
- Moira Deeming previously dropped her candidacy in 2024 after the party favored Dinesh Gourisetty for the same position.
- Trung Luu secured the second spot on the upper-house ticket after withdrawing from the re-run contest.
- The Victorian Liberal Party’s preselection process requires candidates to submit two referral letters, 10 signatures from eligible members, a national police check, a credit report, an 18-page questionnaire, and a $5,000 application fee.
- Moira Deeming was expelled from the Liberal Party in 2023 after attending a Let Women Speak rally gatecrashed by neo-Nazis and later threatening legal action against former leader John Pesutto, who was found to have defamed her in court.
- The Victorian Liberal Party’s administrative committee agreed to lend John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle his legal debt to Moira Deeming in 2024.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Moira Deeming offered to defer some of John Pesutto’s legal bill in exchange for conditions, including her preselection, but the proposition was rebuffed.
- The legal battle between Moira Deeming and John Pesutto resulted in Pesutto being ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Deeming.
- Deeming thanked state Liberal leader Jess Wilson for her support and stated she looked forward to exposing 'Labor's callous betrayal of hard-working families' ahead of the November election.
- Deeming was welcomed back into the parliamentary party in December 2024 and named its representative for Melbourne's western suburbs.
- Bobby Lakra, a real estate agent, was considered Deeming’s main challenger but was ruled ineligible due to missing required referral letters, despite confirming with the party he had the necessary documents.
- Tim Beddoe, a former Liberal candidate for Maribyrnong, and Steve Murphy, the party’s candidate at the Werribee byelection, both withdrew from the contest after Lakra’s exclusion.
- The nomination window for the re-run preselection was criticized as a 'stitch up,' with members alleging the party executive intentionally designed it to prevent new candidates from nominating.
- The party’s president, Philip Davis, wrote to members at 11:10 PM on Tuesday night to announce the reopening of nominations with a 36-hour window.
- The preselection process is under review after it failed to flag Gourisetty’s character reference for the convicted child sex offender.
- Deeming is on personal leave and has not publicly confirmed whether she will pursue preselection, though she notified the opposition leader, Jess Wilson, on Tuesday she would not return until after Easter.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states Moira Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room after threatening legal action against John Pesutto, while Guardian does not mention this specific detail about her expulsion process.
- ABC reports Deeming was suspended from the Liberals after attending a Let Women Speak rally gatecrashed by neo-Nazis, but Guardian does not mention this specific event in its coverage of her expulsion.
- ABC states Deeming was the only eligible nominee remaining for the position after other candidates withdrew, while Guardian notes that Trung Luu remained in the number two position and was not required to renominate, implying he was still a candidate in the process.
- Guardian claims the nomination window was initially pushed for 24 hours but was extended to 36 hours, while ABC does not mention the timeline details of the nomination window.
- Guardian reports that Deeming is on personal leave and has not publicly confirmed whether she will pursue preselection, while ABC does not mention her current leave status.
Source Articles
Moira Deeming to secure top spot on Victorian Liberal ticket
Reversal of fortune comes just one week after she was dumped in favour of Dinesh Gourisetty, who then withdrew his nomination Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Moira Deeming...
Moira Deeming could stay on Liberal ticket after preselection bungle as members make ‘stitch up’ claim
Potential challengers given only 36 hours to prepare for a rerun after the winner was deemed ineligible Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or...
Australia news live: Moira Deeming secures top spot on Victorian Liberal ticket; Chris Bowen calls for Hormuz reopening
State upper house MP runs unopposed after initially being dropped during a preselection challenge. Follow today’s news live Good morning, and happy Monday. Nick Visser here to take you through the day...
Moira Deeming wins Victorian Liberal preselection battle
The outspoken MP has officially won top spot on the party's upper-house ticket for the Western Metropolitan Region after other candidates withdrew....