Peter Dutton refuses to rule out federal intervention in beleaguered Victorian Liberal party

Opposition Leader John Pesutto says there’s a growing sense in the party the issues surrounding Moira Deeming had to be dealt with quickly.

Moira Deeming will face a fresh expulsion motion by the Liberal Party. Picture: Luis Ascui

Opposition Leader John Pesutto has admitted there is growing concern within Liberal ranks about the impact of the Moira Deeming scandal, ahead of a second attempt to expel the controversial MP from the party this Friday.

But Mr Pesutto refused to say whether he believed the rogue MP needed to have her Liberal Party membership revoked entirely.

This would have to be carried out by the administrative arm of the Victorian Liberal Party.

Mr Pesutto, who has received a notice of motion from five MPs seeking the expulsion, said it showed a wider feeling within the party about the need for the matter to come to an end.

“What those five members of the party have done reflects the concerns that many in the party room including myself share about needing to resolve this matter,” he told the media on Sunday.

“There is a sense now that we’ve got to deal with this quickly.

“I know there is growing concern in the organisation that this is now the second time that this matter has come before the party room.

“I expect there will be some organisational response to that as well - but I’ll leave that to the organisation.”

The Herald Sun can also reveal senior Liberals are considering taking action against up to three other MPs.

They are considering a range of sanctions and possible expulsion motions over accusations they have brought the party into disrepute.

At this stage, the only confirmed expulsion motion relates to Mrs Deeming who this week threatened legal action over her nine-month suspension from the partyroom.

Under Liberal Party rules five days notice must be give ahead of an expulsion motion.

Liberals behind the move want the matter brought to a head before the next parliamentary sitting week begins on May 16.

Moira Deeming will face a fresh expulsion motion from the Liberal Party. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

It comes as federal Liberals consider a potential intervention of the Victorian branch.

State Liberals from various factions said the move was needed.

Federal leader Peter Dutton on Friday said he “wouldn’t rule out a federal intervention” and demanded the Victorian branch “sort their mess out”.

“I will make it very clear to the Victorian division that I want this mess sorted out as quickly as possible — people have been elected to represent their constituencies,” he told ABC radio.

“The whole mess needs to be sorted out sooner than later. It needs to be mediated as a matter of urgency.”

Mr Dutton said while he was supportive of Mr Pesutto, ongoing internal fighting was distracting from the party and hurting the national brand.

“It doesn’t help our brand, it doesn’t reflect on broader party movements and there is a lot good going on within the Liberal Party despite what you might hear on different programs, and it’s a distraction, and it needs to be dealt with.”

The mechanism for a federal takeover has never been used in Victoria.

Former Victorian Liberal Party deputy director Tony Barry said federal intervention was warranted.

“The Victorian Liberal Party is like the space shuttle Columbia slamming into the Hindenburg and then landing on the deck of the Titanic,” he said.

“The division requires federal executive intervention and the removal of a small number of destructive forces in the parliamentary party who are more focused on internal elections than external elections.”

Ms Deeming with controversial UK activist Kellie-Jay Keen, who headed the Let Women Speak rally. Picture: David Crosling

Senior Liberals believe they have the numbers to boot Mrs Deeming from both the parliamentary wing of the party and broader membership base.

They expect the move to boost Mr Pesutto’s authority as leader.

Mrs Deeming has accused him of reneging on a key part of a compromise deal that saw her accept a suspension over expulsion six weeks ago.

Her threat of legal action was prompted by Mr Pesutto’s refusal to publicly exonerate her from claims she was linked to neo-Nazis.

Mrs Deeming said it breached the terms of her suspension from the party.

Mrs Deeming was last month served a nine month ban from the parliamentary wing of the party following her involvement in a Let Women Speak rally that was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis.

Mr Pesutto launched a campaign to expel her from the partyroom but later agreed to an 11th hour compromise that saw her accept the ban.

As part of the deal, multiple sources told the Herald Sun Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto were due to issue a joint statement following the decisions.

It was expected Mr Pesutto would publicly exonerate Mrs Deeming from claims he made in a 15-page dossier of evidence compiled and sent to all MPs to back his case for expulsion.

John Pesutto launched a campaign to expel Ms Deeming from the partyroom. Picture: Luis Ascui

In it, he accused Mrs Deeming of having Nazi links and “conducting activities in a manner likely to bring discredit on the Parliament or the Parliamentary Party.”

But following the compromise deal Mr Pesutto held a press-conference with his leadership team, and Mrs Deeming issued a statement under her own name.

Mr Pesutto’s office has denied there was ever an agreement to issue a joint statement.

On Thursday Mrs Deeming issued an ultimatum to Mr Pesutto that he publicly exonerate her by 2pm or face legal action.

After he failed to accede to the demand, Mrs Deeming emailed colleagues to flag the legal action.

“I have continued to try and work from within to resolve this issue,” she told colleagues in an email.

“I have kept doing the things I’ve been asked to do, I have not criticised the leadership publicly and done my level best to support the Liberal Party.

“I am now in a position where continued silence is damaging my name and reputation, my family and my mental health.

“To any reasonable observer, my treatment as a new MP has been unfair and extreme.”