Exiled MP tells court it is not controversial to believe women dont have penises and no man has a vagina - as she is cross-examined at defamation trial
Victoria state MP Moira Deeming told the Federal Court on Wednesday that it is not controversial to say women do not have penises and no man has a vagina.
Victoria state MP Moira Deeming told the Federal Court on Wednesday that it is not controversial to say women do not have penises and no man has a vagina.
Protest leaders made those observations at the controversial Let Women Speak rally outside state parliament in March 2023, which Ms Deeming, who was then a Liberal MP, attended.
Ms Deeming was giving evidence at her defamation trial against Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto over comments he made about her attending the rally.
She alleges Mr Pesutto falsely portrayed her as a Nazi sympathiser after she spoke at the rally, which was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis.
Mr Pesuttos barrister Dr Matthew Collins KC asked Ms Deeming if remarks made at the rally by British transgender-critical activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull about how women cant have a penis were provocative and controversial.
Its completely uncontroversial that at the Let Women Speak rally, those things were said. Thats literally what we all came to say, Ms Deeming replied.
Dr Collins was also questioned over the rallys potential links to neo-Nazi groups.
She said commentary by keyboard warriors labelling her a Nazi or fascist did little to deter her from attending the womens rights rally.
Independent MP Moira Deeming (centre, in blue top) arrives to the Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne, Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Victorian opposition leader, John Pesutto (left) and his wife Betty arrive to the Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne, Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Ms Deeming acknowledged receiving numerous critical comments following her tweet promoting the event that questioned her rubbing shoulders with brownshirts, another term for Nazis or fascists.
But she viewed the derogatory comments as attempts to provoke her rather than genuine concerns about her association with rally attendees.
Footage of the rally, which included a line of black-clad men repeatedly performing Nazi salutes on parliament steps, and numerous tweets about the event were shown to the court.
Ms Deeming said she had never seen that footage of the Nazi salutes and questioned why the group wasnt arrested by police.
I hadnt seen that before, that just proves they arent with us, Ms Deeming said on Wednesday.
Following the rally, she received a text message from deputy Liberal leader David Southwick stating she needed to denounce the attendance of the neo-Nazis.
But Ms Deeming said she wasnt equipped to send out a press statement on her own, because she was new to parliament and thought something like that would need to be approved by the party.
Instead she made a statement on social media.
Earlier, Justice David OCallaghan opened the hearing by refusing Ms Deemings application to subpoena Mr Southwick for communications or recordings.
The application followed a secret recording of a Liberal leadership meeting in March 2023, played to the court on Tuesday.
Ms Deeming said despite her involvement, she tried to avoid being a divisive member of the Liberal Party after she was shocked by an internal fallout over duck hunting.
Id never seen anything like that with adults, she told the Federal Court hearing of a fiery exchange within the party room.
As a result, she asked Mr Pesutto to help her advocate on womens rights without creating a similar situation.
She said the very warm Mr Pesutto told her it shows me you wont be that kind of person.
Ms Deeming said she wanted to meet Mr Pesutto for more advice about the rally, but that never eventuated.
Mr Collins suggested Ms Deeming failed to tell Mr Pesutto of her full involvement in the rally because she knew it would be controversial.
I knew it was controversial. Im not denying any of those things, Ms Deeming told the court.
I just considered that I had consulted with my leader and he knew what I was doing.
When asked if she thought the rally could become violent, Ms Deeming said threats from counter protesters made her more determined to be brave.
Ms Deeming will continue to be questioned on Thursday.
British transgender-critical activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull speaks on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne on March 18, 2023. Victorian MP Moira Deeming is pictured to her right
Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell is seen at the Let Women Speak rally in Melbourne on Saturday, March 18, 2023
High-profile Liberals are set to give evidence over the three-week trial including federal Senator Sarah Henderson, Mr Southwick and former MP Matt Bach who now lives in the UK.
Mr Pesutto has denied wrongdoing.
Ms Deeming has been an independent MP since she was expelled from the Liberal Party.
Mr Pesutto previously reached settlements with anti-trans rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull and Angela Jones, issuing both a public apology over their involvement in the rally.
