Former Liberal MP Moira Deeming has announced she will join Family First and lead the conservative party at the November Victorian state election.
Deeming made the announcement at Victorian parliament alongside Family First leader Lyle Shelton, saying the party was a “good fit” for her.
Deeming said several parties had approached her about joining, but she ultimately chose Family First after considering the options. She said she had known Shelton for a long time and believed he would not ask her to remain silent on issues including child safeguards and sex-based rights.
Deeming represents the Western Metropolitan Region in Victoria’s upper house. She left the Liberal Party in July after being disendorsed ahead of the November election.
Her departure followed a dispute involving fellow Liberal MP Matthew Guy. Deeming had accused Guy of grabbing her “violently” in a headlock, before later saying she had misunderstood the meaning of the term headlock.
Her first term in Victorian parliament has also included a legal dispute with former Liberal leader John Pesutto. Deeming successfully sued Pesutto for defamation after he claimed she was associated with neo-Nazis who disrupted a rally she attended.
Deeming will now contest the November Victorian election under the Family First banner, marking a new phase in her political career after her split with the Liberals.
Source: The Guardian
