Liberal MP Moira Deeming survives motion to expel after attending Let Women ... trends now
Controversial Victorian MP Moira Deeming has avoided being thrown out of the Liberal Party for now after delivering a strong speech where she revealed she had been raped and had faced threats.
Ms Deeming, who represents the Western Metropolitan Region, has been removed from the party room for nine months after appearing at a Let Women Speak rally that was also attended by neo-Nazis last weekend. She said they had not been invited.
Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto, who had wanted her expelled from the party, said on Monday night Ms Deeming could still be forced out of the party.
'I can say categorically that if the party room, when it does reconsider this matter ... if it sees evidence that there is a difference between what we were assured in written and oral presentations ... and what is being posted on social media, then, there will be consequences,' he told ABC's 7.30 program.
That followed the revelation she tweeted later to an organiser of the rally: 'don't worry, I never condemned you, or KD or KJ.'
Liberal MP Cat Deeming (centre) has been suspended for nine months after appearing at an anti-trans rights rally that was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis but was not thrown out of the party
Ms Deeming at the event with outspoken anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen
In a speech to the party room, she revealed she had been raped as a child and sexually assaulted which is what drove her actions, according to the speech provided to Sky News host Peta Credlin.
'I note that many of you are confused and annoyed with me for persisting in taking about women's rights, intersex rights, gay rights, parents rights and safeguards for women and children,' Ms Deeming told the party room.
'I assure you the reasons are completely and utterly based on love and compassion, not any sort of bigotry - and not even on religion or conservative politics.
'When I speak on these issues, I speak from personal experience. My life has been marred repeatedly by rape - at the hands of me - from the age of four.
'I have been assaulted in public facilities, I was sexually harassed and assaulted by a teacher who later went to jail for having sex with minors.
'I am driven by a desire to make sure other children and women don't suffer like I did.'
She said her uncle who helped to raise her was Jewish and the survivor of the Holocaust, which is why she said the allegations she had Nazi links were untrue and 'deeply and personally offensive and hurtful.'
'These allegations against me of Nazism and hatred towards the trans community are 100 per cent false, but people will believe them if you support this motion to expel me.'
UK anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen had hosted the event while Ms Deeming was accused of playing a role in 'organising, promoting and attending' it
The event was gatecrashed by protestors who performed the Heil Hitler salute and clashed with transgender rights activists who had turned up to demonstrate
Members of the opposition met in a 'marathon' two-hour session on Monday morning to vote on the expulsion motion steered by .
Mr Pesutto said Ms Deeming made some 'important concessions' around 6.30am and 'condemned' material in a dossier that helped alter her fate.
But he also added the behaviour deserved 'serious consequence'.
'She certainly made clear to the party room today that she has a lot to learn on these things,' Mr Pesutto said.
'That's part of the process we've put in place. She has condemned the
