Moira Deeming will run for Family First at the November Victorian state election after quitting the Liberal Party.
The former Liberal MP revealed on Thursday that she will run for the minor party and serve as its leader at the election.
“I am super excited to announce that I’ve joined Family First,” she wrote on social media.
“I have long admired their principled stance on a whole range of issues, and I’m very proud to lead the Party into the November election, where I’m running to win my seat in Western Metro.
“It’s not going to be an easy battle, but there are five seats up for grabs.
“One Nation, Labor, Liberal and the Greens seem almost guaranteed the first four, and I’ll be doing everything I can to stop the fifth seat going to a party or candidate who will vote against parental rights, child safeguards and biological truth.”
Speaking outside Parliament on Thursday morning, Ms Deeming said that Family First national director Lyle Shelton – who previously led the Australian Christian Lobby – had played an important role in her political life.
“I’ve known Lyle for a very, very long time, well before I even thought about getting involved in politics,” she said.
“Back when I was a teacher, and I started reading all of the new laws and curriculums that were going to remove all the child safeguards, and I looked around, and all I could see was Lyle.
“Lyle was one of the only men standing up against it, and they threw all kinds of grenades at him as well. He stood strong, and I have so much respect for that.”
Ms Deeming said she believed she had more to give in politics.
“I’m just really pleased to be joining this party and fighting for the West, because the job isn’t done, it’s not done,” she said.
“Child safeguards are not in the law. The major parties continue to take the West for granted, and we don’t get our fair share of revenue from the taxes, and we don’t get our fair share of investment. And it’s absolutely disgraceful.
“So I just really want to fight for the families of the West and for the things that I’ve always fought for, and I’m just going to continue to do that now.”
The mother of four said she had received offers to join multiple parties but Family First had been the standout.
“A lot of parties invited me, and it was just so kind of them all, and a lot of people have supported me from… across the political spectrum,” Ms Deeming said.
“It was very kind of them. I’m flattered. I think that they’re good people, and I agree with a lot of what they stand for. But I was such a good match with Family First.
“As I said, I’ve known Lyle for so long, and I know that he’s a man of good character.
“I know that he’s never going to ask me to be quiet about child safeguards and sex-based rights.
“He will never do that, and I’m not interested in cowards who do.”
Ms Deeming has experienced a tumultuous tenure in Parliament since she was elected in 2022, having been exiled from the Liberal partyroom in early 2023.
The Western Metropolitan MP engaged in a years-long legal battle with former opposition leader John Pesutto after she appeared at a Let Women Speak rally that was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis.
The dispute ended when a federal judge ruled she had been defamed as someone who associates with Nazis.
She returned to the Liberal partyroom after the victory.
However in July her tenure in the Liberal Party came to an end for good after she accused fellow MP Matthew Guy of assault.
Video of the incident failed to support her claim and police said that after an investigation there was “no offence detected”.
She was expelled from the Party after failing to withdraw and apologise for her claims.
Ms Deeming said on Thursday that she stood by her claims against Mr Guy as she criticised the Liberal Party’s handling of her claim.
“I wish I had been wiser to realise that that was probably the way that they were always going to handle something like that,” she said.
“I find it very interesting that nobody, not a single person, has ever said to Matthew Guy that he should keep his hands to himself.”
Ms Deeming has maintained that she initially raised the matter internally and only reported it to the police on the instruction of senior party members.
Ms Deeming was linked to One Nation earlier this year, with reports suggesting she had agreed to join Pauline Hanson’s party after losing her Liberal preselection, before changing her mind when the preselection decision was reversed.
However Senator Hanson publicly shot down speculation she could join the party after the allegations against Mr Guy were raised.
“I do not want her,” Senator Hanson told News24.
Asked about One Nation on Thursday, Ms Deeming said she did not harbour a grudge over the issue.
“The comments that she made after the whole interesting reporting on the Matthew Guy saga, I mean, she wasn’t given all the information, and I’m not angry at it,” she said.
“She just made an innocent mistake because she didn’t have all the information.”
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In a statement welcoming his new recruit, Mr Shelton said he was “delighted” that Ms Deeming had agreed to join Family First.
“Moira is one of the most courageous parliamentarians in Australia, and her resilience and tenacity makes her the best person to fight for the families of Western Melbourne,” Mr Shelton said.
“Moira doesn’t back down no matter what is thrown at her and she won’t back down when it comes to standing up for the families of Western Melbourne.
“She will be a strong advocate for parents, children, working families and communities across Melbourne’s west — and she will demand that government spending and services actually deliver for the people who pay for them.
“Family First is delighted to have Moira on board, and we will be doing everything to ensure she remains a strong voice for families in the parliament.”
Read related topics:Victorian Election Victorian Politics