Moira Deeming says it plainly. “Labor has neglected and taken the West for granted for decades. I am here to change that.” The comment, made in a statement to The Indian Sun, reflects the core message behind a Liberal Party fundraiser she hosted in Melbourne’s western suburbs earlier this month.
Held in early September at the West Waters Hotel, the event marked a re-engagement by senior Liberal figures with a region long considered Labor heartland. Among those in attendance were Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, South Australian Senator Leah Blyth, Warren Mundine AO, Shadow Minister for Local Government Bev McArthur MP, Anthony Dillon, Chris Crewther MP, and former Senate candidate Kyle Hoppitt. More than 200 guests gathered to hear what party leaders described as a renewed focus on the needs of voters in Melbourne’s outer west.
The fundraiser also marked a return to the spotlight for Deeming following a highly publicised internal dispute. After entering State Parliament in 2022, Deeming was expelled from the Parliamentary Liberal Party in 2023. She later initiated legal proceedings, which ended in a confidential settlement. Upon her return to the party room, she was appointed as the Liberal Leader’s Representative to the Western Suburbs.
Recent polling suggests the Coalition still faces major hurdles. A RedBridge Group survey published by the Herald Sun earlier this month shows Labor ahead 52–48 on a two-party preferred basis. Kos Samaras, Director at RedBridge, said the Coalition’s challenge lies in urban electorates where demographic trends favour Labor and the Greens. “To win government, the Coalition would need to crack into Melbourne seats that Labor currently holds on margins above 5%. That means not just a statewide 51–52%, but a Melbourne two-party preferred closer to 52–53%, a swing of up to 7 points in the city is required.”
He pointed to younger voters, renters and multilingual households in the outer suburbs as key groups that continue to favour Labor or the Greens. The same poll found Labor leads 54–46 in Melbourne’s inner and middle suburbs, 52–48 in the outer ring, and 58–42 in regional cities such as Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong. The Coalition led only in rural areas, where it holds a narrow 52–48 advantage.
Deeming, who represents the Western Metropolitan Region in the Legislative Council, has focused her policy agenda on law and order, youth justice, infrastructure, and accountability. Among her proposals is a plan to introduce “Jack’s Law” in Victoria, which would give police and Protective Services Officers handheld wanding powers to check for weapons in public places, including train stations and shopping precincts. She has also called for tightening bail laws to curb repeat offending, and for the reinstatement of police move-on powers.
Other proposals include Restart, a live-in residential program for serious youth offenders aged 12 to 17, and Youthstart, a package of early interventions such as mentoring, diversion programs, trauma-informed therapy, and family-based case management. On family violence, she supports “Right to Ask, Right to Know” laws that would allow individuals to request information about a partner’s violent history. She has also advocated for a ban on face coverings at public protests and for the introduction of a protest registration framework.
Raised in a staunch Labor household, Deeming’s political path stands apart from many in her party. Her great-grandfather, John Joseph Holland, served as a Labor MP and Melbourne City councillor for more than three decades. She identifies as Māori and Presbyterian and worked as a high school teacher before entering local government. In 2020, she was elected to Melton City Council’s Watts Ward, receiving just over 21 per cent of the primary vote.
In 2022, she was preselected as the lead candidate on the Liberal Party’s ticket for Western Metropolitan Region, replacing Bernie Finn following his expulsion from the party. The decision sparked internal debate, with former Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury resigning from the party in protest. Deeming went on to win the seat at the November state election.
Her earlier preselection for the federal seat of Gorton was withdrawn following internal concerns about her public profile and its potential impact on the 2022 campaign. The party endorsed a different candidate after a second vote.
Since entering Parliament, Deeming has maintained a consistent stance on infrastructure, tax reform and public safety. Her proposals have drawn both support and criticism, particularly in electorates where cultural and demographic shifts are reshaping political loyalties. Asked whether her platform risks alienating younger and more multicultural voters, Deeming responded: “I believe in taking a stand for our Liberal values and winning elections by fighting for them—not by hiding them or abandoning them. As a Liberal I stand for ending government corruption and restoring good governance through fairer taxes, transparent public spending, and protecting people and their property from violence.”
Brad Battin’s attendance at the fundraiser signalled the leadership’s support for Deeming’s campaign focus. Battin, who became Leader of the Opposition following a series of internal changes, has spoken publicly about the need for the party to reconnect with suburban voters and deliver clear alternatives on crime, housing and cost of living.
Seats such as Melton, Werribee, Tarneit and St Albans remain among Labor’s safest, but the Coalition has identified the western corridor as a key focus in the lead-up to future elections. The party’s challenge is not just organisational, but geographic. As the RedBridge data suggests, a shift in outer metropolitan voting patterns is essential to any change in government.
Whether that shift is under way remains to be seen. Infrastructure strain, youth crime and housing pressures are top issues in the region, and Deeming is aiming to tap into those concerns directly. “The West deserves better,” she posted after the event. How that message resonates in electorates where Labor continues to hold double-digit margins will become clearer in the months ahead.
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🗳️Liberal MP @MoiraDeemingMP hosted a #fundraiser in Melbourne's west, focusing on law & order, youth justice & infrastructure.🏛️She aims to challenge Labor's hold on western suburbs, despite recent polls showing Coalition trails 52-48.🇦🇺 #TheIndianSun
🔗 https://t.co/zRQHykOWjr pic.twitter.com/sRclwXpuQt
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) September 18, 2025
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