2 weeks Ago By Rachael Ward
Expelled Liberal MP Moira Deeming lives in fear of political violence and is "distraught" her own children called her a Nazi, evidence in her high-profile legal battle against Victoria's opposition leader has revealed. or signup to continue reading Ms Deeming launched defamation action against Liberal Leader John Pesutto over comments he made about her attending a rally in March 2023 outside state parliament, which was gatecrashed by a group of men who did the Nazi salute. She said she "extraordinarily distressed" by Mr Pesutto's media release following the rally, as she was questioned on day four of the three-week Federal Court trial.
On Thursday, she said it was "shocking" anyone would do the salute in Melbourne in 2023 after earlier this week telling the court she did not see it happen until a group of men, who had nothing to with her rally, were escorted away by police. British activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull also attended the Let Women Speak rally and Ms Deeming was asked about her social media presence, including a photo of what appeared to be a Barbie doll in a Nazi uniform. "She told me it was mocking the people who call her Nazi Barbie," Ms Deeming said.
In an affidavit, Liberal Party figure Nyunggai Warren Mundine described Ms Deeming as a close personal friend and recounted a conversation where she told him her children said "my mum's a Nazi". "She told me that, even though they did not understand what this meant, she was distraught that her children were saying this," Mr Mundine wrote. He said he was initially "shocked" by a media release he understood to be "suggesting that Moira was fraternising with Nazis" but came to understand the allegation against her was baseless.
Other affidavits detailed the personal and professional impact to Ms Deeming since the events following the rally, including her husband Andrew who revealed the mother-of-four has become isolated, reclusive and "lives in fear" of politically motivated violence. Mr Deeming said he has seen online threats against his wife and the couple's children. "She now fears going out in public," Mr Deeming said.
"Often I will suggest we go out and she will be reluctant to leave the house. "She has told me she is fearful whenever she is approached by a stranger who says they know who she is." Multiple high-profile Liberals are expected to give evidence during the trial including deputy Victorian Liberal leader David Southwick and former MP Matt Bach, who is flying in from the UK to address the court.
Ms Deeming has been an independent MP since she was suspended then expelled from the Liberal Party in May 2023. Federal Senator Sarah Henderson revealed she had reached out to Mr Pesutto over Whatsapp after the rally with concerns over reports about moves to expel her from the party. Her affidavit questioned whether Ms Deeming had been given procedural fairness and claimed a media report that referenced those messages had led to Ms Henderson being called a "Nazi sympathiser" and subject to other false comments on social media.
In a secret recording of a meeting played to the court on Tuesday, Mr Pesutto said Ms Deeming should either resign from the party or he would start a process to remove her. Mr Pesutto has denied wrongdoing and previously reached settlements with Ms Keen-Minshull and Angela Jones, issuing both a public apology. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.
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