Moira Deeming resigns from Victorian Liberal Party

Victorian MP Moira Deeming has quit the parliamentary Liberal Party and confirmed her plans to move to the crossbench as an independent.

Deeming announced the decision to step down in a statement on social media on Tuesday.

“My focus has always been, and will continue to be, on representing the needs and concerns of everyday Australians,” she said.

“I was elected to fight for freedom, fair laws, and families.

“To save our state from the endemic corruption, crushing debt, and the rising crime crisis, Labor has got to go.

“I remain fully committed to seeing that through.

“Thank you to those who have supported me.”

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Earlier this month, the Victorian Liberal Party disendorsed Deeming as a candidate for the upcoming state election in November.

The move came after Deeming accused her partyroom colleague Matthew Guy of putting her in a “headlock” at a Macedonian community event in Sunshine West on May 23.

Deeming filed a report with Victoria Police.

Following an investigation, police said in June “there was no offence detected” and that it would not pursue charges.

Guy told media he was “deeply hurt” by the allegations and demanded a public apology from Deeming.

Deeming, through her lawyer Tim Houweling, issued a lengthy statement which categorically denied making a false complaint.

She admitted to misunderstanding the “technical meaning” of the term headlock after reviewing the footage but maintains she used it in good faith to describe the incident to police.

Victorian opposition leader Jess Wilson issued a short statement in response to Deeming’s announcement.

“This morning I received the resignation from the Parliamentary Liberal Party from Moira Deeming,” Wilson said.