The Victorian Liberal Party has found itself in shambles as one of its MPs, Moira Deeming, claimed she never condemned the organisers of an anti-trans rally in Melbourne that was attended by neo-Nazis.
On Monday afternoon, just hours after she was handed a nine-month suspension from the party for her involvement in the rally that saw neo-Nazis perform the Nazi salute outside the Victorian parliament, Deeming tweeted that she never condemned the organisers of the rally.
Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto had previously told the media that Deeming had condemned the organisers during a party room meeting. He had initially sought to have her expelled from the parliamentary party, but said he changed his mind after she provided “concessions” and “condemnation” of the rally.
“I never said those things anywhere,” Deeming tweeted on Monday after the party room meeting.
She then tweeted again to anti-trans activist Angi Jones: “Don’t worry, I never condemned you, or KD or KJ (Kellie-Jay Keen).”
Here, Deeming is referring to former Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Warringah Katherine Deves, and British anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull.
During an appearance on ABC’s 7.30 program on Monday night, Pesutto said if there was evidence that what Deeming presented to the party room meeting was different to what she posted on social media, then there “will be consequences with that”.
“The party will be looking very closely, all of us, who believed what was put to us,” he said.
“If, as I’ve seen this evening, there are comments on social media that are inconsistent with that … that is a matter Moira would have to take very seriously because there will be repercussions.”
Pesutto also said anyone who is not willing to make “diversity and inclusion” a “top priority in the Liberal Party” will not be given a platform.
But with Deeming now suspended from the Liberal Party for nine months, Pesutto did not say whether the tweets published on Monday have already ruined her chances of being welcomed back to the party room after her suspension, but did say the tweets were a “real problem”.
“Well, I’m not happy with those tweets, and they’re very great concern and will represent if that continues, it will obviously represent a real problem going forward for Moira to return the [party],” he told the ABC on Tuesday morning.
“There’ll obviously be consideration by the party room about whether Moira has acted consistently with the outcome of the party room decision.”
He also could not say whether Deeming could continue to promote her anti-trans rhetoric as part of the Liberal Party. He said his main concern was “people in hate speech” and that hate speech would never be accepted in the party.
“I want public debate not just in the state but nationally, to be respectful and civil and courteous, and to be inclusive so that people can participate in discussions,” he said.
“I am a supporter of free speech, but any connection of the Liberal party with people who share platforms with people who are extremely … people in hate speech is a concern to me and will never be acceptable in the party.”
The situation that unfolded on Monday came after Pesutto initially took a strong stance against Deeming’s involvement in the Melbourne rally. At the time, he said her position in the party room was “untenable” and said he was determined to lead an inclusive party.
The party now finds itself in a scenario where Deeming is responsible for her own conduct for a period of nine months while her suspension is carried out. The first signs of her conduct while suspended from the party have not been reassuring.
So where to from here? Pesutto says Deeeming’s conduct will be assessed at the end of the suspension, but there is no telling what will happen when the time is up, or if she will face further repercussions.