Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has lost her top position on the party’s upper house ticket for the western metropolitan region, with members voting to replace her with businessman Dinesh Gourisetty ahead of the November state election.
Party delegates met in Melbourne on Sunday, where Mr Gourisetty secured preselection for the leading spot on the ballot, defeating Ms Deeming, who had been elected to the upper house in 2022.
The result follows a period of internal division within the party, with Ms Deeming remaining a contentious figure after attending the “Let Women Speak” rally in 2023, which was disrupted by neo-Nazi groups. She condemned those groups while defending her decision to attend the event.
Her dispute with then Liberal leader John Pesutto led to her suspension and eventual expulsion from the parliamentary party after she threatened defamation action. A court later found Mr Pesutto had defamed Ms Deeming by implying she associated with extremist groups. She returned to the party room after a leadership change in late 2024.
Despite backing from senior conservative figures, including former prime minister Tony Abbott and commentator Peta Credlin, Ms Deeming was unable to retain her position on the ticket. Current Liberal leader Jess Wilson had also supported sitting MPs facing preselection challenges and described Ms Deeming as an “articulate and effective advocate for our party’s values in a part of Melbourne where people are increasingly interested in voting for change”.
Mr Gourisetty, who has been active in Melbourne’s Indian community, had earlier indicated confidence ahead of the vote, saying he felt “very confident” and that the outcome was “in the hands of the delegates”.
According to party figures, 68 delegates participated in the ballot, with Mr Gourisetty receiving 39 votes compared to 26 for Ms Deeming.
The western metropolitan region is expected to remain competitive, with the Liberals aiming to retain two seats, though there are concerns about competition from parties such as One Nation, which is contesting all seats following recent gains in South Australia.
Ms Deeming did not seek a lower position on the ticket and left the meeting without commenting. Her future political direction remains unclear, with speculation about a possible move to another party. One Nation state president Warren Pickering said his party was “open to discussions” and described Ms Deeming as “courageous”.
The preselection outcome still requires formal endorsement by the party’s state executive before being finalised for the election ballot.
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