Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has secured a temporary legal reprieve after launching urgent Supreme Court action against the Victorian Liberal Party, delaying a planned meeting that was expected to determine whether she would remain an endorsed Liberal candidate for the upcoming state election.
The legal action was filed against Victorian Liberal Party president Brian Loughnane shortly before the party's state executive was due to meet on 3 July 2026. The executive had been expected to consider withdrawing Deeming's endorsement as the Liberal candidate for the Western Metropolitan Region after she refused to issue an apology over assault allegations she made against fellow Liberal MP Matthew Guy.
The dispute stems from an incident at a Macedonian community event in Melbourne in May, where Deeming alleged Matthew Guy placed her in a headlock. Victoria Police reviewed CCTV footage and concluded no criminal offence had occurred, with no charges laid. Following the police investigation, Liberal leader Jess Wilson and senior party figures called on Deeming to apologise. Deeming declined, maintaining she acted in good faith.
In her Supreme Court application, Deeming argues the disciplinary process is procedurally unfair and alleges bias in the decision-making process. Her legal team sought an injunction preventing the party from taking any action that could affect her endorsement until the court has an opportunity to hear the matter in full.
During an urgent hearing, Justice Kerri Judd encouraged both parties to preserve the status quo while the legal dispute is resolved. The Victorian Liberal Party subsequently agreed not to proceed with any action affecting Deeming's endorsement, resulting in the cancellation of the scheduled executive meeting. The court has listed the matter for a substantive hearing on 17 July, with written submissions and affidavits to be exchanged beforehand.
The latest legal battle is another chapter in the long-running conflict between Deeming and sections of the Victorian Liberal Party. In 2024, she successfully sued former Liberal leader John Pesutto for defamation after he suggested she was associated with neo-Nazi groups following her attendance at a controversial rally in 2023. That case resulted in substantial damages and legal costs, creating ongoing financial and political difficulties within the party.
The renewed dispute has further exposed divisions inside the Victorian Liberal Party only months before the November 2026 Victorian election. While some party members argue Deeming's refusal to apologise has damaged the party's reputation, her supporters contend she is being denied procedural fairness and should not lose endorsement before the court considers her challenge.
For now, Deeming remains the Liberal candidate while the court proceedings continue. The Supreme Court's eventual ruling will determine whether the party can proceed with disciplinary action or whether its endorsement process must be reconsidered. Until then, the political uncertainty surrounding one of Victoria's most high-profile Liberal MPs is set to continue.
