Peter Killin emails Vic Liberals after John Pesutto moves to expel Moira Deeming from party

An explosive email to Liberal MPs has blasted a “foolish” move to expel Moira Deeming for alleged links to the far-right, revealing several other party members with controversial associations.

Deputy opposition leader David Southwick and other senior Liberals have become directly embroiled in the controversial move to expel Moira Deeming.

In an explosive email sent to all Liberal MPs on Wednesday morning, Liberal leader John Pesutto has been asked to explain why Ms Deeming has been singled out for expulsion because of her alleged links to far-right extremists, but Mr Southwick, shadow treasurer Brad Rowswell and shadow minister for Finance Jess Wilson are not facing similar moves despite their own controversial associations.

Dept opposition leader David Southwick has become entangled in the move to expel Moira Deeming. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The email was sent by Peter Killin, a founding member of Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives who in 2019 quit as the Liberal party’s candidate in the federal seat of Wills after his own homophobic views were revealed.

“It is extremely disappointing to see the ridiculous standard and nonsensical approach by the Liberal Party over Moira Deeming,” it said.

“The standards you have all set are very foolish. Indeed, who among you can cast the first stone?

“We note in particular three of your colleagues (for now): David Southwick, Brad Rowswell and Jess Wilson.

If guilty by association is now the rule, sadly all of them will need to be kicked out of the party room.”

Mr Killin has denied writing the email, but in a separate leaked email later boasted about the problem it would cause the party.

The email cites Mr Southwick’s association with controversial right-wing campaigner Avi Yemini, who has himself been labelled a neo-Nazi.

A photo was also included in the email of Mr Southwick and Mr Yemini.

Peter Killin has written an explosive letter to all Liberal MPs email. Picture: Supplied

The email also raises questions about Ms Wilson’s husband, Aaron Lane, who in 2014 was forced to resign his candidacy in the upper house Western Victorian Region over a series of homophobic social media comments.

And it also asked why Mr Rowswell was not facing expulsion over his association with controversial tennis great Margaret Court, who appeared at a guest speaker for the then Liberal party candidate at a fundraiser in 2017.

“Of course, all of this is nonsense,” Mr Killin wrote.

“Your actions over the past week have been ridiculous and you need to drastically change course if the Liberals ever are interested in defeating Dan Andrews.”

The email was sent to all Liberal MPs and then forwarded by upper house MP Bev McArthur who asked for an explanation on the party’s position.

“I am interested to know where our position on ‘association’ might end?” she wrote.

“It appears the general public may be doing their own research. Solution required.”

Dept. Liberal leader Matt Bach said the Liberal Party needed to get on with the motion to expel Moira Deeming. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

On Thursday Deputy Liberal leader in the upper house, Matt Bach, said Ms Deeming had not been unfairly singled out, despite other senior MPs also having controversial associations.

Mr Bach said the Liberal Party needed to get on and move Monday’s motion to expel Ms Deeming from the parliamentary branch.

“There will be no compromise. There can be no compromise. We support John and we support that motion,” he said.

“I’m confident that will happen.

“It’s very clear that we must move ahead to support John, support the motion, get Monday done and then move ahead.

“We want to be talking about this tired, incompetent, corrupt government.

“What we want to do is hold that government to account and then present ourselves as an alternative to the Victorian people and to win the election in 2026.”

A Liberal Party source said the email had “blown up” the debate over the looming debate to expel Ms Deeming.

“It’s unfortunate that John’s unwillingness to listen to his team has forced people into writing emails like this – calling out his blatant double standards,” they said.

“This is another regrettable example of the Liberal Party focusing on itself rather than on holding the Government to account on its many manifest failings.

“Clearly acting on poor advice from his advisers and leadership group, this massive misstep by Pesutto has completely undermined his stated goal of unifying the Party under his leadership.”

Mr Pesutto’s office has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Peter Killin emails Vic Liberals after John Pesutto moves to expel Moira Deeming from party