‘Party’s best interest’: Deeming to cut short UK trip to attend parliament

Moira Deeming has decided to cut short a trip to the UK after her decision to miss parliament to attend a conference led by Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson ruffled feathers among colleagues.

Moira Deeming will fly home early from the UK to attend parliament next week after copping criticism from within her own party for jetting off to attend a conference led by well-known psychologist Jordan Peterson.

Mrs Deeming, who booked the trip prior to her readmission to the Liberal Party in December, had been given the green light to attend the exclusive event by Opposition Leader Brad Battin.

But her decision to skip parliament so soon after rejoining the party had ruffled feathers among her colleagues, including former opposition upper house leader Georgie Crozier.

Mrs Deeming told the Herald Sun on Friday her decision to return to Melbourne was due to the “distraction caused by uninformed and unfair characterisations” of her leave.

Moira Deeming has cut her holiday short to return to parliament. Picture: David Crosling

“While still defending myself from vilification and defamation in Federal court- I decided that my family had suffered enough and needed a break, so we booked a trip at the first possible opportunity,” she said.

“I arranged to provide the required medical certificates for leave from parliament and was willing to work for three days while on that trip by attending a conference relevant to my role as an MP.”

Mrs Deeming said once she was readmitted to the party room she disclosed the situation to leadership and “due to my extenuating and unusual personal circumstances, I was kindly granted permission to go”.

“I then arranged a pair to negate my absence,” she added.

“Due to the distraction caused by uninformed and unfair characterisations of my leave entitlements, I have arranged to fly back for parliament to refocus attention on the phenomenal pushback from my amazing residents against Labor’s neglect of the West!”

Former opposition upper house leader Georgie Crozier took a subtle dig at Moira Deeming. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Pressed over whether it was appropriate that Mrs Deeming was missing the sitting week to attend the event on Wednesday, Ms Crozier said the party’s “expectation is that you attend parliament”.

“It is a privilege to have this position … and you need to be in parliament to prosecute a case for your party,” she said.

“So, I think it’s up to Mrs Deeming why she’s made that decision.

“But I would say the rest of the Liberal team are getting on with what they need to do.”

Mr Battin informed the party room of Mrs Deemings decision to cut her trip short in an email on Thursday night, saying her return was in the “party’s best interest”.

“And I appreciate this,” he added.

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott will be among the speakers at the event, which is described as a gathering of the “world’s leading thinkers, business leaders, policy makers, and culture formers to interrogate some of today’s most important social, economic, cultural, and moral questions”.

Sky News Australia presenters Peta Credlin and Chris Uhlmann are also listed as contributors.

Mrs Deeming was accepted back into the Liberal Party over the Christmas period after more than 18 months in exile following her successful defamation battle against former opposition leader John Pesutto.

Federal Coalition frontbencher Bridget McKenzie will also attend the event in London. Picture: Martin Ollman

An initial vote over her readmittance in December had split the party 14-14, with Mr Pesutto casting the deciding vote to keep her out.

But he quickly changed his tune as his leadership came under threat, calling another vote, which ultimately led to both her readmittance and a vote to oust Mr Pesutto as leader and replace him with Brad Battin.

Ms Crozier, who was a key ally of Mr Pesutto, was known to have voted against Mrs Deeming’s return to the party.

An opposition spokesman said: “Just like any other member of the team — future travel plans will need to be in keeping with parliamentary commitments and subject to consultation with the leadership”.