Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has launched legal action against party state president Brian Loughnane. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
The case is listed to be heard in the Victorian supreme court on Friday morning. The latest round of Liberal infighting comes less than five months out from the 28 November state election, with party executives planning to meet on Friday evening to determine Deeming's candidacy.
Deeming had made a police complaint against former leader Matthew Guy, alleging that he assaulted her by grabbing her "violently" in a headlock at a gala dinner on 23 May. Victoria police investigated and found "there was no offence detected".
Guy has demanded a public apology from Deeming. "There was no ambiguity," he said. "I did not do what was alleged. The CCTV proves this. It did from the start, and Victoria Police agree."
Deeming has since claimed she misunderstood the meaning of headlock but has refused to apologise. She has been invited to the state executive meeting but whether she attends is yet to be seen.
Opposition leader Jess Wilson on Thursday refused to answer questions about the process but told reporters Guy's reputation had been harmed. "I think he deserves an apology," she said. "That is the right thing to do, and Moira has decided that's not the case. And now the state executive will meet."
Pauline Hanson has declared she would not offer Deeming a position at One Nation. "You don't do that to your fellow colleagues," she told 3AW radio.
Monash University political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said the scandal shows disunity and disorganisation in the party. "This is arguably the most critical point for the Liberal leadership right now to clear their internal problems," he said. "This has to be resolved as quickly as possible because it's already taken up a lot of political coverage … it has hobbled the party significantly."
Deeming's lawyer Tim Houweling said his client's complaint had been made "honestly, in good faith and only as a matter of last resort". He referred to CCTV footage showing Guy placing his hand on Deeming's upper back or shoulder area and pulling her in to say something. Houweling said Guy maintained a grip as Deeming tried to pull away and this physical contact was "unexpected, unwelcome, physically painful and caused her to feel fear and confusion".
Deeming successfully sued former leader John Pesutto for defamation when he wrongly implied she was associated with neo-Nazis after they gatecrashed a rally at parliament she attended.