Moira Deeming has quit the parliamentary Liberal Party and will sit on the crossbench as an independent, putting an end to her MP’s tumultuous relationship with the party.
Ms Deeming’s resignation comes after the state executive earlier this month voted unanimously to disendorse her after she refused to apologise for making assault allegations against former leader Matthew Guy that were dismissed by police.
Ms Deeming handed in her retirement notice during a chaotic day at Victorian parliament on Tuesday, with Opposition Leader Jess Wilson issuing a statement about 20 minutes after it was announced Ben Carroll would become Victoria’s new Premier.
“This morning I received the resignation from the parliamentary Liberal Party from Moira Deeming,” Ms Wilson said.
Ms Deeming in a statement on social media confirmed her resignation and said she would sit on the crossbench as an independent.
“My focus has always been, and will continue to be, on representing the needs and concerns of everyday Australians,” Ms Deeming said.
“I was elected to fight for freedom, fair laws, and families.”
She thanked her supporters and said she was committed to getting rid of the Labor government.
“To save our state from endemic corruption, crushing debt and the rising crime crisis, Labor has got to go.
“I remain fully committed to seeing that through,” she said.
Ms Deeming was elected to the upper house for the Western Metropolitan Region in 2022.
She was expelled from the Victorian Liberal partyroom in 2023 but readmitted in 2024 after she had successfully sued the party’s former leader, John Pesutto, for defamation in the Federal Court.
The loss ultimately cost Mr Pesutto the leadership.
Ms Deeming again hit the headlines in March this year after Indian community leader Dinesh Gourisetty beat her for the top spot on the Liberals’ Western Metropolitan ticket in a preselection battle.
She was quickly returned to the top position on the upper house ticket, however, after it emerged Mr Gourisetty had provided a character reference for a friend convicted of child sex offences.
Ms Deeming was subsequently disendorsed last month after she defied Ms Wilson by refusing to apologise for making allegations of assault against fellow MP Mr Guy.
She launched legal action in the Supreme Court against Liberal state president Brian Loughnane and the party, challenging their disendorsement process, but subsequently she discontinued it.
Ms Deeming remains entangled in a separate Supreme Court action brought by a group of members and former members of the Liberal state executive against the party regarding its decision to loan Mr Pesutto $1.55m to enable him to pay legal costs owed to Ms Deeming.
