Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming says she will not apologise and that she misunderstood the meaning of the term “headlock”, after alleging her party room colleague Matthew Guy had assaulted her.
Ms Deeming, who is overseas, today released a statement through her lawyer Tim Houweling, to “correct the public record regarding her recent complaint to Victoria Police”.
The complaint related to Ms Deeming and Mr Guy’s attendance at a crowded Macedonian community event in Sunshine on May 23.
The statement said Ms Deeming categorically rejected any suggestion that her complaint to Victoria Police, which was dismissed last Thursday, was falsely made.
The lawyer said the MP’s complaint was based on Ms Deeming’s own version of what had occurred, in line with her understanding of events at the time.
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Mr Houweling said after CCTV footage of the incident was released to the media, his client was able to view the footage for the first time.
“She accepts that she misunderstood the technical meaning of the term ‘headlock’ but maintains that she used it in good faith to describe what happened,” the statement said.
“The publicly available footage shows Mr Guy pulling her towards him while maintaining a grip around her neck and upper shoulder area as she attempted to pull away, preventing her from freely moving her head for several seconds.”
Late last week, Mr Guy demanded an apology from Ms Deeming, after Victoria Police dismissed its investigation into the allegation he assaulted her.
Matthew Guy has demanded an apology from Ms Deeming. (AAP: Con Chronis)
“There is no ambiguity. I did not do what’s alleged,” Mr Guy said in a press conference at Victorian parliament.
“The CCTV proves this, it did from the start, and Victoria Police agree … Moira Deeming owes me a public apology.”
Today’s statement from Ms Deeming’s solicitor said she “maintains that from her perspective this physical contact by a senior male colleague in the workplace was unexpected, unwelcome, physically painful and caused her to feel fear and confusion”.
“This incident was exacerbated by our clients’ prior history of being a victim of rape and sexual abuse, and having PTSD both from that and from what has occurred over the last more than three years,” the statement said.
Mr Guy last week also called for an apology from Premier Jacinta Allan and Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny, but said an apology was most important from Mrs Deeming.
“They can come to me the honourable and easy way, or a harder way,” Mr Guy said.
“My family name, my reputation, is not a political toy. No-one’s is.“
Liberal leader Jess Wilson agreed that he deserved an apology.
“I think it is entirely reasonable he has asked for that. I’m devastated for Matthew,” she said.
Ms Deeming’s future in the party is not clear.
Ms Wilson said she has asked to speak with the MP when she returns to Australia.
