Can the Victorian Liberal Party avoid falling apart again?

As Australia united around the Socceroos, the country’s most self-destructive political party was trying to avoid falling apart, yet again.

In the latest unedifying chapter for the Victorian Liberals, controversial MP Moira Deeming accused former leader Matthew Guy of assaulting her at a function, claiming he put her in a headlock.

CCTV footage appeared to contradict her claims.

Police investigated, and were unconvinced by the video evidence that an offence had taken place. Guy had no case to answer, and throughout the week, he maintained his innocence.

The visibly shaken political veteran held a press conference yesterday and demanded a public apology, and that the premier and attorney-general stop politicising the events of the week.

“My wife, my sons, my parents, my brother, my cousins, my family who share my name, deserve those apologies as well.”

Growing support for party removal

Others want tougher action, with growing support for Deeming to be removed from the party room. Guy has been considering legal options over the claim.

The tragedy of the Victorian Liberals’ latest imbroglio is that the party has a genuine chance of winning office in November, but this week once again reminded voters it is focused on personal animosity rather than voters’ needs.

Among Liberal MPs, there is a desperation to change that perception, and while they’re all tarred with the same brush, in this controversy, it is limited to one MP’s allegations.

In many ways, this latest saga could be a godsend.

It is unifying the party room.

The penny has dropped for MPs that, after 12 years in the political wilderness, the Coalition can win office, and they know that unity is important.

Leadership test for Wilson

Managing the fallout of this week’s scandal is a major test for leader Jess Wilson.

She has publicly supported Guy’s request for an apology, but she must manage resentment among her MPs that they cannot sit beside Deeming after the claims were dismissed.

A short history lesson. Former leader John Pesutto lost the leadership because he tried to remove Deeming from the party room. She successfully sued him for defamation after he linked her to neo-Nazis.

The opposition also has a tightrope to walk; it will not want to be seen as disciplining a woman for making an allegation of assault. Its response must be legally and politically sound.

The view among Liberals is that Pesutto’s attempt at expulsion was not rigorous enough.

MPs demanding tough consequences for Deeming are conscious that any action taken against her must be watertight.

Deeming has been in the UK this week, attending a conference, and Wilson has made it clear she wishes to speak to the upper house MP when she returns.

Pesutto’s expulsion attempts and subsequent legal case clearly took a toll on Deeming, a fact she spoke about publicly, and this week would have again been a significant challenge.

The ABC has sought comment from the MP.

The Western Metropolitan MP has been the lightning rod for factional tensions ever since she arrived on Spring Street. This week, the factions all but came together in frustration. 

MPs say it is hard to see how she remains a member of the party room, given that even some of her former allies want nothing to do with her.

But this is the Victorian Liberal Party, even with a potential shot at victory in sight, its track record shows you can take nothing for granted.

And therein lies the challenge for Wilson and her entire team, who are dreaming of toppling a 12-year-old government.