Victorian Liberal

Jess Wilson tried to create a united front – and it worked for a minute. But they just couldn’t help themselvesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFor months, a plan has been under way by moderates within the Victorian Liberal party to dislodge a group of conservative women from their prized, top positions on the upper house ballot ahead of the November state election.While they failed to move Bev McArthur and Renee Heath, and Ann-Marie Hermans held on in the second spot, they did claim one major victory by ousting Moira Deeming – by far the most high-profile of the group. Continue reading...

Dinesh Gourisetty has been called a ‘pedophile supporter’ for providing court reference for a friend convicted of sexually assaulting a childFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictorian Liberal leader, Jess Wilson, says the man who defeated Moria Deeming for the top spot on the party’s upper house ballot is “not welcome” on her team, after it was revealed he wrote a court character reference for a friend convicted of grooming a 15-year-old girl.Dinesh Gourisetty, a prominent figure in Melbourne’s fast-growing Indian community, defeated Deeming on Sunday in a preselection vote for the party’s candidates for the western metropolitan region at the upcoming November election. Continue reading...

Party members to determine MP’s political future after Dinesh Gourisetty also nominated for upper house seatGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMoira Deeming’s political future in the Victorian Liberals is about to be decided behind closed doors in the final preselection battle for the party’s upper house seats on Sunday.Liberal members were due to gather at party headquarters for the western metropolitan region convention, where Deeming faces a serious challenge from Dinesh Gourisetty, a prominent figure in Melbourne’s fast-growing Indian community. Continue reading...

Jess Wilson’s party has made a splash on social media but will they work together in the state election race?Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJess Wilson doing bombs into a swimming pool. Brad Battin in a muscle shirt curling 20kg, tattoos on show. John Pesutto throwing a discus, clad in blue jeans. Matthew Guy running, clutching a pink baton.The current Victorian Liberal leader and three of her predecessors feature in a social media video to mark what would have been the opening ceremony of the regional Commonwealth Games on Tuesday – if the state government hadn’t cancelled them. Continue reading...