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It was great to be in Melbourne on Thursday to welcome Moria Deeming to the Family First family.

She is one of the most courageous parliamentarians in the nation, along with the equally courageous Sarah Game who sits as a Family First member in the South Australian Parliament.

I’d encourage you to take a moment to read the statements put out by myself and Sarah in the blogs below. Moira’s statement is here.

The Liberals’ latest persecution of Moira was unjust and visceral after she privately reported allegations of unwanted touching of her by former leader Matthew Guy.

This was then leaked by the Liberals and weaponised against her in the media.

That’s why I was keen to sit down with Moira for this week’s podcast so you and I can hear what the media won’t report.

This podcast is Moira in her own words. Moira takes us inside her time in the Liberal Party — from the attacks that began before she even entered Parliament, to the backlash over her views on women’s rights, abortion and gender ideology.

She revisits the 2023 women’s rights rally that was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis, the political fallout that followed, her battle with former Liberal leader John Pesutto, and the internal meetings she says became some of the most difficult experiences of her political career.

She also discusses her defamation case, the more recent incident involving former Liberal leader Matthew Guy, her concerns about intimidation and safety, and why she ultimately concluded that her future could no longer be inside the Liberal Party.

Moira Deeming and the Upcoming Victoria Election

We’re excited to have Moira on board, and this changes our strategy for the Victorian and New South Wales elections.

While campaigning will continue in NSW ahead of next March’s election, our main priority will be turning the resources of our political movement to getting Moira re-elected.

It is in the national interest that her voice is not lost from the Victorian Parliament.

I’m grateful to our Victorian Chair Jane Foreman and her team for embracing Moira and the change the new battlefield environment brings.

Family First will continue to recruit candidates throughout the state who will benefit from the uplift in awareness that Moira’s joining us brings, but our main aim will be getting her re-elected in the Western Metro Region of Melbourne.

If you live in Victoria and are willing to stand as a candidate, something that will lift the Family First presence and benefit Moira’s campaign in western Melbourne, please contact Jane via the office email here.

Statement by Lyle Shelton

Family First National Director Lyle Shelton today announced that the party’s Federal Executive has endorsed Moira Deeming as its lead candidate for the Western Metro region for the Victorian Legislative Council at the November election.

“Moira is one of the most courageous parliamentarians in Australia, and her resilience and tenacity makes her the best person to fight for the families of Western Melbourne,” Mr Shelton said.

“Moira doesn’t back down no matter what is thrown at her and she won’t back down when it comes to standing up for the families of Western Melbourne.

“Families are working harder but finding it increasingly difficult to buy a home, pay their bills and give their children the opportunities they deserve. Rapid population growth has put enormous pressure on roads, schools, hospitals and essential services.

“Family First believes government should put families back at the centre of decision-making. That means respecting the role of parents, improving educational standards, making our communities safer, supporting small and family businesses, protecting freedom of conscience and ensuring young Victorians have a realistic opportunity to own a home and raise a family.

“Moira has already demonstrated that she is prepared to stand up for what she believes is right, including the sex-based rights and protections of women and girls. But her commitment to families is much broader than any single issue.

“She will be a strong advocate for parents, children, working families and communities across Melbourne’s west — and she will demand that government spending and services actually deliver for the people who pay for them.

“Moira has paid a high price for fighting for commonsense.

“She brings this same determination to the fight against the corrupt Andrews/Allen/Carroll government which has sold out the families of Western Melbourne.

“Family First is delighted to have Moira on board, and we will be doing everything to ensure she remains a strong voice for families in the parliament,” Mr Shelton said.

Mrs Deeming has also been appointed Victorian Party Leader. Jane Foreman continues as Chair of the Victorian Executive.

Statement by Sarah Game

South Australian Family First MLC Sarah Game has welcomed Victorian MP Moira Deeming to Family First, saying her decision to join the party strengthens the growing parliamentary voice for families, women and children across Australia.

Ms Deeming has today announced she is joining Family First and will stand as the party’s lead candidate for the Western Metropolitan Region at the upcoming Victorian election.

Ms Game said she was delighted to welcome another sitting parliamentarian to the Family First team.

“I am incredibly pleased to welcome Moira to Family First. It is exciting to have another Family First voice in an Australian Parliament and particularly someone who has shown such courage in standing up for her convictions,” Ms Game said.

“Moira and I share a strong commitment to protecting women’s sex-based rights, safeguarding women’s spaces and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children comes before ideology.”

Both parliamentarians have been outspoken on issues surrounding sex and gender, including the protection of female-only spaces and greater scrutiny of gender-related medical interventions involving children.

Ms Game recently moved to establish a South Australian parliamentary inquiry into young people seeking assistance for gender dysphoria, including examination of clinical pathways, safeguards, parental rights, medical interventions and long-term outcomes.

“These are issues that many Australians are deeply concerned about, but too often people feel they cannot ask questions or speak openly without being attacked or silenced,” Ms Game said.

“Women should not have to apologise for wanting their sex-based rights and spaces protected, and parents deserve confidence that decisions affecting vulnerable children are grounded in evidence, appropriate safeguards and genuine informed consent.”

“Moira has demonstrated that she is prepared to stand firm even when doing so comes at a personal and political cost. I know she will bring that same determination to Family First.”

Ms Game said the addition of Ms Deeming demonstrated the growing momentum behind Family First and its commitment to putting families back at the centre of public policy.

“I look forward to working alongside Moira as we continue standing up for women, protecting children and putting families first.”

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Republished with thanks to Family First. Image via Family First.