Family First says Victorian Liberals applied two standards
Family First has criticised the Victorian Liberal Party’s treatment of Moira Deeming, arguing that senior figures backed Matthew Guy far faster than they backed Deeming.
National director Lyle Shelton made the case in comments about Deeming’s 2023 expulsion, her defamation action against former leader John Pesutto and her later reinstatement.
In 2023, Deeming was falsely accused of being a Nazi associate after she spoke at a Let Women Speak event. Shelton argued that no Victorian Liberal publicly offered sympathy at the time, while party figures quickly rallied around Guy.
Police dismissed Deeming’s assault allegations involving Matthew Guy. However, Shelton pointed to video footage that he argued showed Guy making an unwelcome touch.
Lyle Shelton criticism
Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room after the 2023 event. The dispute then became one of the biggest internal fights in Victorian opposition politics.
“Deeming was unjustly expelled from the party room and left to the only recourse she had available: to clear her name by suing for defamation,” Shelton said.
That legal fight centred on Pesutto. Deeming sued him for defamation and later won reinstatement to the party room.
Shelton argued that she received no public support from the Victorian Liberal Party as she took on Pesutto in court. As a result, he portrayed the case as her main path to clear her name.
He also described Deeming’s treatment by the party as cruel and unusual punishment that continued until she proved her innocence and was reinstated.
By contrast, Shelton argued, Victorian Liberals were quick to back Guy’s version of events over Deeming’s account.
The criticism linked several episodes from the same dispute: the 2023 accusation, the Let Women Speak event, the defamation case against Pesutto and Deeming’s return to the party room.
“Family First is proud of Moira’s courage and her advocacy for girls and women in the face of overwhelming opposition,” Shelton said.
Shelton argued that Australia needs more parliamentarians with Deeming’s courage and resolve.
