The Victorian Liberal Party has reopened applications for the number one position on its Western Metropolitan Region Legislative Council ticket, setting up a fresh contest to replace disendorsed MP Moira Deeming ahead of November’s state election.
A notice to party members confirms the Liberal state executive has reopened nominations for the lead position, with applications closing at 5pm on Monday. Candidates are required to complete both a Legislative Council application for a Liberal-held seat and an Applicant Review Committee form.
Several names are in contention, though party sources say businessman and community leader Dinesh Gourisetty, Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell and sitting upper house MP Trung Luu have emerged as the leading contenders.
Mr Gourisetty won the party’s March preselection before later withdrawing after scrutiny of a character reference he had provided. Despite that episode, some Liberals believe he remains a potential contender should he decide to nominate again.
Ms Campbell is also being discussed as a potential contender. The barrister and Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor has built a high public profile through local government and was the Liberal candidate for Aston at the 2023 federal by-election. Her legal background and public profile are expected to make her a competitive candidate if she nominates.
Unlike a traditional grassroots preselection involving local party members, the final decision is expected to rest with the Liberal state executive, giving it direct control over one of the party’s safest upper house positions.
Mr Gourisetty won the party’s March preselection, defeating Ms Deeming by 37 votes to 29, while Mr Luu secured endorsement for the second position on the ticket.
The Victorian Liberal Party has reopened applications for the top position on its Western Metropolitan Region Legislative Council ticket, following the disendorsement of Moira Deeming. Several names are being discussed, with nominations closing on Monday as the party prepares to decide one of its safest upper house seats
The result was later set aside after scrutiny of a character reference Mr Gourisetty had provided. He later withdrew his candidacy and apologised, acknowledging that providing the reference had been an error.
Despite that episode, supporters argue he won the original ballot on merit and remains well connected across Melbourne’s western suburbs and multicultural communities. Any renewed bid is likely to attract renewed scrutiny over whether the issues surrounding his earlier withdrawal have been fully addressed through the party’s candidate review process.
Mr Luu is also under consideration for the top position. A former Victoria Police forensic officer, he has represented Western Metropolitan Region since the 2022 election and has focused much of his parliamentary work on crime, community safety and multicultural affairs.
Some senior Liberals are understood to favour elevating Mr Luu to the lead position rather than leaving him second on the ticket.
Other names being discussed include western suburbs community advocate Jenny Matic, former Maribyrnong federal candidate Tim Beddoe and former Werribee candidate Steve Murphy.
Mr Murphy came within 693 votes of winning the traditionally Labor-held seat of Werribee at the February 2025 by-election, finishing with 49.18 per cent of the two-party preferred vote after a swing of more than 10 percentage points to the Liberals.
Mr Beddoe contested the federal seat of Maribyrnong at the 2025 election, polling 30.46 per cent of first preference votes before finishing with 37.35 per cent after preferences against Labor’s Jo Briskey.
Both men sought to enter an earlier reopened preselection before later withdrawing, while several other applications were declared invalid during a process that attracted criticism from within the party.
Ms Matic is also regarded by some Liberals as a potential contender, with longstanding ties to the party and strong links across multicultural communities in Melbourne’s west.
The vacancy follows the Liberal state executive’s decision earlier this month to cancel Ms Deeming’s endorsement after a prolonged internal dispute linked to allegations she made against former Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.
Ms Deeming remains a member of the Victorian Legislative Council but will not contest the November election as the Liberal Party’s lead candidate for Western Metropolitan Region.
The lead position is regarded as highly valuable. The Liberals won two seats in Western Metropolitan Region at the 2022 state election, resulting in the election of both Ms Deeming and Mr Luu.
The region covers 11 lower house electorates across Melbourne’s west, including Footscray, Kororoit, Laverton, Niddrie, Point Cook, St Albans, Sunbury, Sydenham, Tarneit, Werribee and Williamstown.
With nominations closing on Monday afternoon, attention is now focused on whether the state executive backs Mr Gourisetty’s return, opts for Ms Campbell, promotes Mr Luu or turns to another candidate with recent electoral experience in Melbourne’s west.
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