Skip to content

AUSPOLLIEWATCH EVERY CLAIM LINKS TO ITS SOURCE · NOT A SCORECARD

Portrait of Moira Deeming

Moira Deeming

Liberal Party · Victoria · Victorian Legislative Council · Western Metropolitan (VIC) · incumbent

Moira Deeming was born and raised in Australia and identifies as Māori and Presbyterian; in her maiden speech she described coming "from a long line of union leaders, card-carrying Labor Party members, and Labor MPs," her great-grandfather John Joseph Holland having been a Labor MP and City of Melbourne councillor. She attended the Catholic high school St Francis Xavier College, received a Bachelor of International Relations from La Trobe University and a Postgraduate Diploma of Education from the University of Melbourne, and worked as a teacher for over a decade before entering politics. [source]

Sourced positions

A verified position is the member's own stated view or vote, supported by the listed sources. This page records public statements and conduct only — see methodology.

Faith & religion verified

Identifies as Presbyterian. Wikipedia states she "identifies as Maori and a Presbyterian." She is widely reported as a devout Christian and has publicly defended retention of the Lord's Prayer in Parliament.

Abortion & reproductive policy verified

Deeming (Liberal) holds anti-abortion views. Her Wikipedia biography states she 'believes that laws legalising abortion need to be repealed' and 'thinks that rape victims should reject abortions and turn to the church.' Writing on a Christian news website she described abortion as a 'terrible evil' and wrote that each abortion 'wounds a mother and father, murders an unborn child, and ends a whole family line.'

Gender & LGBTQ+ policy verified

Liberal MLC for Western Metropolitan and a prominent social conservative on gender issues. She co-organised and spoke at the 'Let Women Speak' (Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull / 'Posie Parker') rally on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne on 18 March 2023, which was gatecrashed by members of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network who performed Nazi salutes. After the rally, then-Liberal leader John Pesutto moved to expel her; she accepted a nine-month suspension from the parliamentary Liberal Party on 27 March 2023, then was expelled from the party room by 19 votes to 11 on 12 May 2023. She sued Pesutto for defamation over imputations that she associated with neo-Nazis; in December 2024 the Federal Court found Pesutto had defamed her and awarded $300,000 in damages. She was readmitted to the parliamentary Liberal Party on 27 December 2024. Deeming has campaigned against transgender 'gender ideology', opposed allowing trans women in female sport, criticised the Safe Schools program, and has been a vocal advocate for what she frames as women's sex-based rights. In October 2023 she moved a motion in the Legislative Council calling for a parliamentary inquiry into gender-affirming care; it was defeated 21-16, with the Liberals, Nationals and conservative crossbenchers voting in support and Labor and the Greens opposing.

Religious freedom verified

Deeming, a Presbyterian, is a prominent religious-conservative voice in the Legislative Council. Her Wikipedia biography records her conservative-Christian positions, including the view that rape victims should reject abortion and turn to the church, and documents her opposition to a range of progressive social measures. She supported the July 2024 petition to retain the Lord's Prayer in the Legislative Council, telling Parliament she had been 'overwhelmed by the number of religious communities - not necessarily Christian communities' who wanted the prayer retained.

Freedom of speech verified

Voted against the Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-vilification and Social Cohesion) Bill 2024, which repealed the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 and expanded vilification protections (Legislative Council, second reading, 1 April 2025; Ayes 22, Noes 17). Voted for the Justice Legislation Amendment (Police and Other Matters) Bill 2025, which allows police to direct the removal of face coverings at protests and expands stop, search and move-on powers (Legislative Council, second reading, 2 December 2025; Ayes 30, Noes 8).

Gambling & gaming reform verified

Voted for the second reading of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation Repeal and Advisory Councils Bill 2024, which abolished the Foundation (Legislative Council, 20 June 2024; Ayes 23, Noes 13). Voted for the second reading of the Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024 (Legislative Council, 27 May 2025; Ayes 35, Noes 1). Voted against the third reading of the Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 (Legislative Council, 17 June 2025; Ayes 22, Noes 14).

Hunting (duck & native birds) verified

Voted for Jeff Bourman's motion on deer hunting (Legislative Council, 13 November 2024; Ayes 32, Noes 6; agreed to).

Native forest logging verified

Voted against the third reading of the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Repeal Bill 2024, which repealed the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 following the cessation of native forest logging on 1 January 2024 (Legislative Council, 20 June 2024; Ayes 20, Noes 12).

Record last updated 2026-08-13.