Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto plans to expel MP Moira Deeming from the parliamentary party over her involvement in an anti-trans rally that took place outside the Victorian parliament on Saturday.
Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto will move to expel outspoken MP Moira Deeming from the parliamentary party over her role in an anti-trans rally attended by neo-Nazis.
It comes as Victorian Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes on Monday confirmed the government would expand current legislation banning the Nazi swastika to include the salute.
Ms Deeming spoke at British anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull’s “Let Women Speak” event outside Victorian parliament on Saturday.
The rally was attended by members of the National Socialist Movement who repeatedly performed the Nazi salute and held signs calling transgender people offensive names, sparking violent clashes with hundreds of counter-protesters.
Police Association of Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said officers prevented a brawl between the groups but were powerless to stop the actions of the neo-Nazis.
Mr Pesutto said on Sunday the scenes of black-clad white supremacists marching along Spring Street were an “abomination” and “affront” to values all Victorians should hold dear.
He said he met Ms Deeming on Sunday afternoon and discussed her involvement in organising, promoting and participating in the rally.
Police remove a protester during a transgender rights rally, involving opposing neo-Nazi protesters, outside Parliament House in Melbourne, Saturday, 18 March, 2023. Source: AAP / James Ross
Mr Pesutto said Ms Deeming’s position was “untenable” and he would move a motion at the next party room meeting to expel her as a member of the parliamentary Liberal Party.
“This is not an issue about free speech but a member of the parliamentary party associating with people whose views are abhorrent to my values, the values of the Liberal Party and the wider community,” Mr Pesutto said in a statement.
“Regardless of religious faith, race, sexual preference and identity, Victorians everywhere should know that the Liberal Party is inclusive and can be a voice for them.”
Transgender rights supporters are held back by police during a rally, involving opposing neo-Nazi protesters, outside Parliament House in Melbourne. Source: AAP / James Ross
Ms Deeming was elected to the Victorian parliament last year as a member for Western Metropolitan region, replacing controversial MP Bernie Finn.
In a post on social media, Ms Deeming, a former teacher and City of Melton councillor, said she was disappointed with Victoria Police for letting masked men into the rally buffer zone.
“Police managed to stop hordes of (trans rights activists), but somehow could only walk masked men past us (as) they did a horrible Nazi salute,” she said on Twitter.
Moves to ban Nazi salute
Ms Symes on Monday said expansion of current legislation banning the Nazi swastika to include the salute would ensure Victorians feel safe, welcome and included.
She described the behaviour as disgraceful and cowardly, noting the salute was being used to incite hatred.
“We’ll look at how this can be done carefully, with considered consultation with a variety of groups and will have more to say on the details of this legislation as we undertake that,” Ms Symes said in a statement on Monday.
It could take months before the new legislation comes into effect.
Mr Pesutto told ABC News Breakfast on Monday that the opposition would work constructively with the government if it moved to ban the Nazi salute.
“We support free speech but every sensible and reasonable person will know there have to be some limits on free speech,” he told ABC News Breakfast on Monday.
“People who engage in actions and gestures which incite hate and violence will never be acceptable in our state.”
Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich welcomed the ban, saying a terrible wrong has been made right.
“There is no perfect cure for the disease of extremism but this law is a first good step,” he said in a statement.
“Now law enforcement will have the tools they have been asking for.”
In December last year, Victoria became the first state to ban the Nazi swastika.
It is now a criminal offence to display the symbol in public, with those who do to face penalties of up to nearly $22,000, 12 months in jail or both.
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