Expected move to expel Deeming raises threat of ‘factional warfare’

A meeting to vote on Moira Deeming’s future in the Liberal Party is expected to be held next week.

Moira Deeming and John Pesutto pose for a selfie in February. Picture: Facebook

Victoria’s Liberal Party leadership is expected to move a motion as soon as Saturday to expel MP Moira Deeming, as Peter Dutton refuses to rule out a federal intervention into the dysfunctional branch of the party.

The moves comes amid a witch-hunt for those responsible for leaking to The Australian the minutes of the March partyroom meeting at which Ms Deeming was suspended, and as MPs sympathetic to Ms Deeming warn any action against her or others could result in “factional warfare for the next few years”.

Junior MP Renee Heath is also expected to be stripped of her position as party secretary, amid fury within the Liberal leadership at the leaking to Sky News of an email in which she accused state leader John Pesutto of having bullied her during a partyroom disagreement over the meeting minutes on Tuesday.

The move against Ms Deeming follows her email to colleagues on Thursday saying she had ­advised her lawyers to “prepare a legal challenge” over her nine-month suspension from the party.

That suspension was agreed upon by the party at the March meeting after Ms Deeming ­appeared at a “Let Women Speak” rally alongside British activist Kellie-Jay Keen, also known as Posie Parker, former federal Liberal candidate Katherine Deves, and left-wing Jewish feminist Angie Jones, when the rally was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis.

Ms Deeming says she was considering the legal action because she had been publicly shamed by Mr Pesutto after his office circulated a dossier to MPs and journalists before the March expulsion ­motion, seeking to link the women at the rally with neo-Nazis and other right wing extremists. Mr Pesutto denies ever having ­accused Ms Deeming of being a neo-Nazi or having Nazi sympathies.

The Australian phoned all 30 members of the Victorian Liberal partyroom on Friday. Of the 17 who were prepared to speak, more than half indicated they were likely to support the expulsion ­motion against Ms Deeming, which is expected to be moved at a special partyroom meeting next Thursday or Friday, ahead of parliament returning the following Tuesday.

Key senior Liberal MPs who were not comfortable with the March move to expel Ms Deeming indicated they believed her decision to launch legal action meant the case to expel her was now clear-cut.

Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto gives a press conference discussing the Moira Deeming Liberal meeting suspension decision in march. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Luis Ascui

“I thought the March motion was over-the-top and was happy to give her the benefit of the doubt, but if she goes and sues the leader, that’s it. You don’t get to do that and stay in the Liberal Party,” said one MP, whose view reflected that of several others.

Some said they were still pushing for Ms Deeming and Mr Pesutto to reach a compromise.

“There’s a way to peace which means this can all be resolved, or we just go to factional warfare for the next few years,” one MP said.

Peter Dutton said he wouldn’t rule out a federal intervention into the Victorian Liberals.

“I make it very clear to the Victorian division that I want this mess sorted out as quickly as possible,” the Opposition Leader said.

Mr Pesutto dismissed the possibility of an intervention from Canberra. “I don’t think federal intervention will ever happen, and it’s not necessary, but I join with my federal colleagues in wanting to reform the party so we can win government for the benefit of all Victorians,” he said.

Other senior Liberals rubbished the notion that “people at a federal level are in a strong position to lecture anyone”.

“This would be from a federal party that has lost government and has lost a whole swag seats in NSW, WA and Victoria that have been held by the Liberal Party and its predecessors since federation. ­Arguably the federal division needs an intervention,” the MP said.