Moira Deeming plans to “fight” the move to expel her from the Liberal Party, following her involvement in an anti-trans rally that was attended by a neo-Nazi group at parliament on Saturday, March 18.
On Sunday, March 19, Opposition leader John Pesutto announced his intention to move to have Ms Deeming removed from the party next week, due to alleged public associations organisers and speakers at the rally have had with “far right extremist groups including neo-Nazi activists”.
Ms Deeming declared her innocence in a statement on March 20.
“I have done nothing wrong. Those who organised the Let Women Speak event on the weekend have done nothing wrong,” she said.
“My intention is to fight and to remain a member of the team. I hope that my colleagues draw the line and say enough, and that I am able to fight alongside them.”
Ms Deeming said the rally was organised by Angela Jones, who she described as a “left-wing, pro-gay rights Jewish woman”.
However, the event was hosted by Standing For Women UK, led by anti trans-rights campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull who spoke at the event.
Mr Pesutto accused Keen-Minshull of having “known links with Nazis, Nazi sympathisers, far-right extremists and white supremacists”.
Ms Deeming said she was “horrified” when she saw “masked men” whom police allowed into their side of the protest give the Nazi salute, and she claimed none of those organising the event had any involvement with them.
“I completely reject the beliefs of National Socialists and I have seen first-hand the impact that the Holocaust had on a family member,” she said.
Ms Deeming also said she would “welcome” expanded Anti-Vilification laws to ban the Nazi salute.
Mr Pesutto said the move to expel Ms Deeming will be decided at a Liberal Party meeting, likely to be held early next week.
