Victorian Liberal MPs have voted to expel upper house MP Moira Deeming from the parliamentary team, a day after the MP warned she may take defamation action against party leader John Pesutto.
They also voted to demote fellow conservative MP Renee Heath from her position as partyroom secretary, after she recently produced three different versions of minutes, one of which was leaked to the media.
Look back on our live coverage below.
Key events
Live updates
That's it for today from Parliament House
By Judd Boaz
Thanks for joining us on this Friday morning as we covered the latest on the Moira Deeming saga.
Check out our recap of the morning's events at Spring Street below.
John Pesutto gives a final word on Moira Deeming
By Judd Boaz
While expelled from the party room, Moira Deeming remains a member of the Liberal Party, with discussions ongoing as to whether the administrative part of the organisation will also sanction her.
But Mr Pesutto was firm that there was no path back for Ms Deeming to rejoin the party room at a later stage.
“If I’m completely candid with you, I can’t see that at all, to be honest. Given what’s transpired in recent weeks,” he said.
He said there are no avenues for Ms Deeming to appeal today’s decision.
Some of the best photos capturing today's drama
By Tim Callanan
Today was a day that promised drama for the Liberal Party and certainly delivered.
Here are some of the best images capturing the mood today from ABC photographer Danielle Bonica.
John Pesutto addresses the media
By Judd Boaz
The Victorian opposition leader says he hopes the move will be the last time his party will have to invoke its disciplinary procedures.
John Pesutto on Renee Heath sacking
By Judd Boaz
The Liberal Party leader said the decision to demote Renee Heath from her role as secretary of the parliamentary Liberal Party was an opportunity for a "fresh start".
"A couple of Renee’s colleagues in the party room moved a motion," he said.
"[It] reflected a view in the room that there had been a loss of confidence in the performance of the role, not in Renee personally of course."
Mr Pesutto confirmed that he had personally supported the motion to sack Ms Heath, but refused to elaborate on the details of the discussions.
He also declined to reveal the colleagues who moved the motion to demote Ms Heath.
"I was convinced on the strength of the motion that was put and the arguments that were made, that it was an opportunity for a fresh start in relation to that position," he said.
He reiterated that unlike Ms Deeming, Ms Heath remained a member of the party room and "still has a future" in the party room with other roles.
More from John Pesutto
By Judd Boaz
When pressed on the actual reasoning behind Ms Deeming's expulsion, Mr Pesutto said all members of the Liberal Party would get an explanation in due course.
"Our party members absolutely will get the detail of these matters but I'm just not in the business of airing party room meetings publicly," he said.
Mr Pesutto did not deny that the threatened legal action from Ms Deeming had an impact on the decision to expel her.
"Most reasonable people would draw the very obvious inference that played a part in the considerations," he said.
"Nobody could look at that and say that is a tenable position in any political party for one member of the party room — whichever the party is — to sue another member of that party."
However, the Liberal leader also hinted towards a broader issue of conflicting values.
"We appreciate that Moira was elected on a Liberal ticket but we've also got a responsibility to the broader Victorian people including the people of Western Metropolitan region to be an inclusive and welcome party that can accommodate conservative and more progressive viewpoints," he said.
John Pesutto speaks on the expulsion vote
By Judd Boaz
Opposition Leader John Pesutto told gathered reporters that the day represented a "turning point" in a long-term reform process for the Victorian Liberal Party.
"I previously asked Victorians to bear with me and my colleagues as we work through that reform process and we are on our way, we are doing solid work and we made real progress today," he said.
When quizzed on the 11 MPs which voted against the expulsion motion, he said the overall vote reflected a strong endorsement of a "very challenging" decision.
"When any party has to deal with any kind of question of expulsion or suspension is not easy for members, and people can fall on either side of the line," Mr Pesutto said.
"But here, as a team, we understood how important it was to make a strong standing, and the party room did that."
He reiterated the vote was a matter of unity, rather than individual viewpoints.
"What has happened today and in recent weeks has nothing to do with whether somebody is conservative or progressive," he said.
"I'm very comfortable with a diversity of viewpoints because I know that the Liberal Party is at its best when that diversity is respected and upheld."
What was in Moira Deeming's defamation letter sent to John Pesutto?
By Judd Boaz
Moira Deeming's legal representation sent a concerns notice to John Pesutto on Thursday, outlining her grievances with the opposition leader.
Chief among the concerns is Ms Deeming's claim that the Liberal Party leader accused her of being a Nazi sympathiser and of being unfit to sit in the Victorian Parliament.
Ms Deeming's concerns notice also claims that Mr Pesutto leaked the accusations and the motion to expel her to the media.
Mr Pesutto has previously denied he "ever accused Moira Deeming of being a Nazi or herself having Nazi sympathies".
Ms Deeming claims that both parties agreed to her suspension and a full retraction from Mr Pesutto, which she says he later reneged on.
She asserts that both the original failed expulsion motion, and the now-successful second motion, were based off false and defamatory accusations.
Ms Deeming yesterday made the following offer to settle the dispute:
- That Mr Pesutto immediately withdraw the expulsion motion and agrees to never repeat or republish the contents of the original or new motion
- That Mr Pesutto provides a signed and dated letter with an expressly written apology about the mentioned allegations
- That Mr Pesutto publicly apologies on his social media and website
- That Mr Pesutto pays compensation by reason damage to her reputation, and also cover the legal costs of pursuing the matter
How Ms Deeming will proceed now following her expulsion remains to be seen.
Check out our wrap of the morning's events
By Judd Boaz
Want to catch-up this morning's events? Click on this article from reporter Dan Oakes recapping a tense morning for the Liberal Party at Spring Street.
A vote split of 19 to 11
By Judd Boaz
State political reporter Richard Willingham says the motion passed with a comfortable majority.
Supporters of Mr Pesutto say it's a strong result although others have pointed to the clear signs of internal division that remain in the party room.
Senior Liberals react to the expulsion vote
By Tim Callanan
A couple of members of the Liberal leadership team, David Davis and James Newbury, spoke outside the party room meeting after the expulsion vote was carried.
Mr Davis said the result represented "a clear and firm direction forward".
"I think this is about the future and about us taking on the Andrews Labor government and, let's be clear, this is plenty to take them on about," he said.
Mr Newbury was a little more blunt in his assessment of the Moira Deeming saga.
"You can not sue your boss and expect to keep your job," he said.
"Suing your party and your leader is a gross act of betrayal, but we are moving forward united as a team."
Eildon MP Cindy McLeish, who was one of the five MPs who brought the motion to expel Ms Deeming, said the decision was a "line in the sand".
Your comments
By Judd Boaz
I am most unimpressed with the actions of the Liberal party towards Moira Deeming, our elected representative. Are they a party of principle, or entitlement and self-protectionism. I will be reconsidering my life-long Liberal allegiance.Concerned Queensland Liberal voter.
- Chris Godde
Moira Deeming? More like No Redeeming... Not really a win for equality and respect ... A slight improvement in the calibre of Victorian Liberal parliamentarians.
- Mark
While the MPs leaving the party room seemed relieved for the matter to be concluded and keen to move onto new business, the decision to expel Moira Deeming has split some of our blog readers.
Coffee first, then questions
By Judd Boaz
John Pesutto told reporters to grab a coffee and that he would hold a press conference in around half an hour to discuss the results of the meeting.
Watch this space.
Renee Heath out as party room secretary
By Judd Boaz
The meeting has served not only to remove Moira Deeming from the party room, but also to sack Member for Eastern Victoria Region Renee Heath as secretary of the Parliamentary Liberal Party.
Ms Heath was sanctioned in the meeting over her taking of party room minutes.
She produced three different versions of minutes, one of which was leaked to media.
Ms Heath has faced criticism over her links to conservative City builders Church.
Former Liberal leader Matthew Guy said Ms Heath would not sit in a party room under him, a decision later overturned by new leader John Pesutto.
More of Sam Groth's comments on the expulsion vote
By Tim Callanan
Just recapping Sam Groth's comments as he came out of the party room meeting to announce the result of the expulsion vote.
"I think there's a real chance to draw a line in the sand for the party now," he said.
"We've had a meeting, we're going to move forward, we're going to get behind John.
"I think it's a chance for us as I've said right from the start of this whole drama, it's time for the Liberal Party to start being a viable option.
"The party room made a decision, I'm not going to speak any further on that but it's time for us all to get together and move forward as one."
Liberal Party vote to expel Moira Deeming
By Judd Boaz
Victorian Liberal MPs have voted to expel Moira Deeming from the parliamentary team.
Liberal MPs spent over an hour and a half deciding the fate of the Member for Western Metropolitan Region.
Ms Deeming will now become an independent MP in the upper house.
MP Sam Groth confirmed the news upon leaving the party room.
"Yep, Moira's gone," he said.
Premier Daniel Andrews sinks the boot
By Tim Callanan
Premier Daniel Andrews hasn't missed the opportunity to have a crack at the opposition, calling them a "mean, nasty little rabble".
Liberal MPs have expressed frustration that the infighting is distracting them from putting the government under scrutiny ahead of the upcoming state budget.
Speaking in Geelong and wearing the obligatory hard hat, Mr Andrews said the Liberals should be left to fight among themselves.
"I think the Liberal Party are all about the Liberal Party and I'm all about the people of our state and getting on and delivering," he said.
Mr Andrews said his party would engage with Ms Deeming if the vote goes as expected and she no longer sits as a Liberal in the upper house.
"We engage with everyone in the upper house but she's a Liberal. Mr Pesutto might not like that but she's a Liberal. She was elected as a Liberal, she then dared to threaten to sue him," he said.
"All her other hateful, bigoted views, they were fine but the moment she threatened to sue Mr Pesutto she has to go. It tells you all you need to know."
Phones are not on flight mode
By Judd Boaz
While the doors have been closed to media as MPs deliberate, it isn't a complete black box.
Member for Western Victoria Region Bev McArthur managed to tweet out an article about her husband Stuart while the meeting was taking place.
What does the federal Liberal Party make of this?
By Judd Boaz
Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has expressed frustration with the Victorian Liberal Party in the weeks leading up to today's vote.
He even went so far as to threaten federal intervention to resolve it if the Victorian branch could not get its own house in order.
"It hurts the brand and that's why it needs to be sorted out, it needs to be mediated so they can get back to their core business of putting pressure on, putting a spotlight on, a corrupt government," Mr Dutton said.
"I wouldn't rule out federal intervention and I make it very clear to the Victorian division I want this mess sorted out as soon as possible."
At a press conference today, a reporter began to ask about the vote to expel Moira Deeming, but Mr Dutton walked away before the question could be finished.
Federal Liberal frontbencher Sussan Ley said she agreed with Mr Dutton's frustration with the turmoil in the Victorian Liberal Party.
"Of course, the Victorian division does need to get its act together so that they are a strong and credible alternative to Labor," she said.
Moira Deeming reacts to her solo supporter
By Judd Boaz
Moira Deeming is not present at the meeting today, but shared her appreciation for one dedicated supporter on the steps of Parliament House.
