The Victorian Liberal Party state executive voted Friday evening to remove Moira Deeming as the party's candidate for the upcoming state election [1], [2].
This decision removes a sitting member of the Legislative Council from the party's official ticket just months before voters head to the polls. The move signals a hardening stance by party leadership regarding internal discipline and the requirements for candidate conduct.
Deeming was ousted following a heated stand-off regarding an apology [1], [3]. The party said the decision followed this dispute and Deeming's subsequent abandonment of a legal challenge she had initiated to remain the candidate [1], [3].
The vote took place July 17 [1], [2]. The move effectively ends her bid to run under the Liberal banner for the November 2026 state election [1].
While Deeming has served as a Liberal MP in the Victorian Legislative Council, the party's state executive determined that her position as a candidate was no longer tenable [1], [2]. The party said it would not provide further details on the specific nature of the apology that led to the conflict [1].
“The Victorian Liberal Party state executive voted Friday evening to remove Moira Deeming as the party's candidate.”
The disendorsement of a sitting MP highlights the internal volatility within the Victorian Liberal Party as it prepares for the November 2026 election. By removing Deeming after a legal and personal stand-off, the party leadership is prioritizing institutional alignment and the resolution of internal disputes over the stability of its candidate list.
