Moira Deeming admits misunderstanding 'headlock' but refuses to apologize to Matthew Guy over assault claim
Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming says she misunderstood the technical meaning of 'headlock' but will not apologize to colleague Matthew Guy for alleging he assaulted her, as CCTV footage and police have cleared Guy of any wrongdoing.
Deeming stands by her account despite CCTV
Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has acknowledged that she misused the term "headlock" when accusing her colleague Matthew Guy of assault, but she refuses to apologize for reporting the incident to police. Deeming's lawyer, Tim Houweling, released a statement on Monday clarifying that Deeming, who is currently overseas, now accepts that she did not fully grasp the technical meaning of the word. However, she insists that she used it in good faith to describe what she experienced at a Macedonian community event in Sunshine, Melbourne, in May.
The incident led Deeming to file a police complaint in June, alleging that Guy, the opposition's public transport spokesperson, had placed her in a headlock. After CCTV footage of the event was made public last Thursday, police quickly concluded their investigation, finding no evidence of an offence. Houweling said Deeming only saw the footage after it was released to the media and had relied on her own recollection.
No apology for 'false complaint' label
Houweling emphasized that Deeming will not apologize for making what some have called a "false complaint." He stated that she categorically rejects any suggestion that her allegation was fabricated, calling such claims defamatory. The lawyer explained that Deeming had first tried to resolve the matter through the Liberal party's internal processes before turning to police as a last resort. He added that the situation was complicated by Deeming's past trauma as a victim of rape and sexual abuse, which he said contributed to her reaction.
Political fallout continues
On Friday, a visibly emotional Matthew Guy called for apologies from Deeming, Premier Jacinta Allan, and Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny, insisting that the CCTV footage proved his innocence. "There was no ambiguity. I did not do what was alleged," he said. Earlier, Kilkenny had questioned whether it was appropriate for a caucus member facing a police complaint to remain in the party room. Allan later suggested that the questions reflected on the leadership of the Liberal Party.
On Monday, Allan stated she would not apologize to Guy, saying there was "nothing to apologize for," and reiterated that opposition leader Jess Wilson still had questions to answer about the internal turmoil. Deeming is expected to meet with senior Liberals to work toward an internal resolution.
