Exiled Liberal MP ‘damaged own reputation’, court told
Moira Deeming (right) has been accused of damaging her own reputation by organising and speaking at a rally. Photo: AAP
Exiled MP Moira Deeming ruined her own reputation by organising and attending a divisive anti-trans rally, lawyers for Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto allege.
Pesutto’s barrister Matthew Collins KC said the damage was done well before the state Opposition Leader made any comments or moved to expel Deeming from the Liberals.
Collins spent much of Tuesday morning outlining his case in the defamation trial against Pesutto in the Federal Court.
Deeming claims Pesutto defamed her in media releases, a press conference and broadcast interviews following her attendance at the Let Women Speak rally in March 2023.
That rally was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis who did the Nazi salute on the steps of the state parliament.
Collins said Deeming had damaged her own reputation by organising and attending the rally, before Pesutto made any commentary or official statement.
He provided examples of tweets sent to Deeming drawing links to rally organisers and Nazi sympathisers, as well as others sent to Pesutto calling for him to axe Deeming from the party.
He agreed Deeming’s reputation had been tarnished, but said it had “nothing to do with Mr Pesutto”.
“Ms Deeming’s reputation had suffered very serious damage, and it suffered that damage by reason of her conducting, organising, promoting and speaking at the rally,” he said.
Video footage of the rally, including chants and Nazi salutes was described by Collins as “utterly chilling”. He said the appropriate response for a member of a mainstream political party was to loudly and clearly denounce it.
Instead, he said Deeming was shown in videos drinking champagne with organisers and indulging in “bizarre conspiracy theories” after the rally.
“Politics is a rough game,” Collins told the court, arguing that political parties needed to secure the mainstream vote to win elections.
“Associations of this kind are absolutely toxic, it drives people from the centre a mile away and that’s why [Pesutto] acted.”
He then argued it was fair and reasonable for Pesutto to clarify publicly why he had moved to expel Deeming from Liberal Party, given the event and uproar had been covered by mainstream media in great detail.
Pesutto, who denies any wrongdoing, is expected to be questioned later on.
-AAP