Two federal Liberal MPs and several other sources within the party, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters, say Deeming has repeatedly been urged to consider a run for the Senate since she was ousted by her state colleagues.
Despite her expulsion from the Victorian parliamentary party, Deeming reaffirmed her commitment to the Liberals and did not rule out a tilt at federal politics, saying “I don’t know what my future holds”.
“I’m a Liberal MP,” she said. “This is my party, I believe in our party and I’m not going to stop helping, no matter what happens to me.”
There are no party rules preventing an MP expelled from the Victorian parliamentary party from nominating for federal parliament, though the move would be considered inflammatory by many in the party, given her public stoush with Pesutto.
Animosity between state and federal Liberals has already been exacerbated by the Deeming lawsuit, with federal MPs worried the judgement – likely to be delivered in December – might trigger more leadership tension in Victoria in the lead-up to a federal election.
The latest Resolve Political Monitor, conducted exclusively for this masthead, put support for the Coalition at 37 per cent – 10 points ahead of the Allan government. It ranked Pesutto just one point shy of Allan as preferred premier, although he was once again forced to address leadership rumblings earlier this month.
Loading
That result would have the Coalition neck-and-neck with the Allan government after preferences, with two years until the next state election.
Deeming said Victorians were living in a poorer state because of Victorian Labor’s “socialist” policies but argued the Coalition would only win if it courageously stood up for its values and avoided a Labor-lite approach, in a swipe at Pesutto’s more centrist approach.
“Our time-tested Liberal Party platform really is the answer to a better life for everyone, rather than relying on polls and a watered-down, ‘modernised’ version of Labor’s platform,” she said.
Her remarks about the Victorian Liberals, who right-wingers say are meek and moderate, echo those of Dutton, who said in September that Pesutto should be much further ahead and the party should avoid a “Labor-lite” model.
Conversely, moderates argue the Liberal-National Coalition has won only one Victorian election in more than two decades when an urbane moderate Ted Baillieu led it to victory in 2010.
Liberals who would like to see a new Victorian leader say they are not currently agitating for his removal, partly because alternative party leaders – Brad Battin, Sam Groth, James Newbury and Brad Rowswell – are not viewed as compelling prospects.
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
