Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto hardened his stance against anti-trans, and right-wing extremism, and seeks the expulsion of MP Moira Deeming from the parliamentary party room. The party vote that decides Deeming’s fate will be held next Monday.
The decision by Pesutto to try and oust Deeming came after the MP attended a rally on the weekend that featured a far-right extremists group the National Socialist Network. The group of about 30 black-clad and masked Hitler saluting neo-Nazis who saw themselves as a “vanguard”, forming a “wall” on Spring Street to “protect a group of women” who were protesting transgender rights.
John Pesutto talking to Neos Kosmos said, “I will not tolerate anyone with any connections direct, or indirect with platforms that promote Nazi odium.”
Asked about why those with extremist views had snuck into the Liberal party over the last few years, Pesutto said he could not change the past but is creating a new culture in the party.
“I can’t change the past, but it’s now fourteen weeks into my leadership and I have not wasted a moment in setting the tone and establishing a culture and building a team that will make Victorians proud.”
“My approach is to unite people, recognising that our diversity is our strength, it underscores what Victoria is.”
“All people, irrespective of faith, sexual preference, race, ethnicity or the gender they identify with, have an equal place in Victoria.”
Pesutto said he knew “bigotry and intolerance well.”
“Growing up I remember how hard it was for my Italian immigrant parents, and especially my older sisters, trying to survive in a migrant home.”
Pesutto’s decision to try and expel Deeming stems from her involvement with British anti-trans campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, former Liberal candidate Katherine Deves, and Melbourne anti-trans activist Angie Jones, who on Sunday tweeted: “Nazis and women want to get rid of paedo filth, why don’t you?”
The motion against Deeming was accompanied by a dossier compiled by the leader’s office, that reveals that Angie Jones, on the weekend posted on Twitter “words that, in the mind of any reasonable and lay observer, made association with Nazis including on 4:41pm by posting the words ‘Nazis and women want to get rid of paedo filth. Why don’t you[?]”
Neos Kosmos has viewed that dossier and extracts are below:
Pursuant to the Victorian Parliamentary Liberal Party Constitution, dated 30 August 2022, (the Constitution), that the Victorian Parliamentary Liberal party expel Ms Moira Deeming from the Parliamentary Party.
Pursuant to clauses 57 and 59 of the Constitution, the reasons for such expulsion being, on the evidence contained in the attached Annexure hereto, that Ms Deeming, on 19 March 2023 and in days preceding that day, conducted activities in a manner likely to bring discredit on the Parliament or the Parliamentary Party, such conduct by:
(a) on 19 March 2023 and on days prior organising, promoting, and attending a rally where Kellie-Jay Keen (also known as Posie Parker), was the principal speaker in circumstances where Ms Keen was known to be publicly associated with far right-wing extremist groups including neo-Nazi activists; and
(b) on 19 March 2023, meeting with and publishing a video with Kellie-Jay Keen, Katherine Deeves, and Angie Jones and that Angie Jones, on that day posted on Twitter words that, in the mind of any reasonable and lay observer, made association with Nazis including on 4:41pm by posting the words “Nazis and women want to get rid of paedo filth. Why don’t you[?]”, that quote being set out in the Annexure hereto, which Annexure also contains a hyperlink to the video referred to in this reason.”
Pesutto’s motion leaves no room for compromise, and a motion to delay the meeting aimed at expelling Deeming failed with 18 votes against and 11 in favour during a general party room meeting on Tuesday morning. The motion to delay the meeting was brought by the member for Berwick Brad Battin and Polwarth MP Richard Riordan, with one MP absent and another abstaining from the vote.
Asked by Neos Kosmos if he was confident of securing the numbers to expel the controversial MP, Pesutto said, “I am confident my colleagues will stand by me and do what is right for the party and for Victoria.”
Premier Dan Andrews in various statements said that anti-transgender activists “gathered to spread hate”.
“I wish it didn’t have to be said, but clearly it does: Nazis aren’t welcome. Not on parliament’s steps. Not anywhere,” he said on Twitter.
“They were there to say the trans community don’t deserve rights, safety or dignity … their evil ideology is to scapegoat minorities – and it’s got no place here.”
Former Labor strategist, now political analyst and media commentator, Kosmos Samaras praised the Leader of the Opposition when speaking to Neos Kosmos.
“John Pesutto is the first Victorian Liberal leader to correctly read the mood of Victorians since Ted Baillieu. Victorians have little in common with the politics of small-town America and he is correctly moving his party away from the politics of hatred and division, towards a pathway that may elect them to government.”
Philip Dalidakis, the former Small Business, Innovation and Trade minister for the Andrews Labor government, himself of Greek Jewish background, applauded Pesutto’s position.
“Sharing a platform with far-right wing extremists is not in the job description for a Member of Parliament. Nor is it in the public’s best interest.”
“As the great Dr Martin Luther King said, it’s always the right time to do the right thing.”
“To that end, John Pesutto should be applauded for taking a stand in expelling his colleague, Moira Deeming. We will now see what type of courage his colleagues have and whether they support him as I’m sure the vast majority of Victorians do.”
Bill Papastergiadis the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) told Neos Kosmos that “the Greek Community applauds the leader of the opposition in his strong stance in relation to condemning any support for Nazis in his party.”
“The Nazis were responsible for great catastrophe and massacres in Greece during World War II, and much was suffered by my people and my own family.”
Papastergiadis said that the “Anzacs fought side by side with the Greeks against the Nazis… against their hateful ideologies and practices.”
“Victoria is a place of tolerance and acceptance, and we are emboldened by the positions taken by our Premier and the Leader of the Opposition on such matters.”
The vote on Monday to determine Deeming’s future could usher a fresh start for moderates in the party under John Pesutto’s stewardship, it is a pivotal moment for the Victoria’s Liberal Party.