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Liberal MP Moira Deeming will not apologise to Matthew Guy for claiming he put her into a headlock at a community function, despite conceding she did not understand the technical meaning of the term before making a complaint to police.
Speaking through a statement provided by her lawyer on Monday, Deeming denied she had made a false complaint and said she would not apologise for “something she has not done”.
“Our client instructs us to make clear that she categorically rejects any suggestion that her complaint was falsely made and considers any such allegation to be entirely without foundation and highly defamatory,” lawyer Tim Houweling said.
“A decision by police not to pursue charges is not a finding that a complaint was falsely made.”
Houweling said everyone should be entitled to make reports without fear of reprisal, and that Deeming’s allegations to Victoria Police were made “honestly, in good faith and only as a matter of last resort”.
“Following unsuccessful attempts to resolve the incident confidentially and through the Liberal Party’s internal processes, Ms Deeming was advised by senior Liberal Party officials to report the matter to Victoria Police.”
Deeming had accused Guy of assaulting her by putting her in a headlock during a public dinner on May 23.
CCTV footage from inside the Macedonian community event instead showed Guy briefly put his arm on Deeming’s shoulder as the pair leaned forward to hear one another in the middle of a crowded room.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and Guy both called on Deeming for an apology after police confirmed they had found no offence after investigating the complaint, including viewing the footage.
Houweling said on Monday he had been instructed by Deeming that her complaint to police aligned with her memory and understanding of the event at the time and that she had only seen the footage once it was released to the media last week.
“She accepts that she misunderstood the technical meaning of the term ‘headlock’, but maintains that she used it in good faith to describe what happened,” he said.
“Without attributing motive to the other party, our client maintains that from her perspective this physical contact by a senior male colleague in the workplace was unexpected, unwelcome, physically painful and caused her to feel fear and confusion.
“This incident was exacerbated by our client’s prior history of being a victim of rape and sexual abuse, and having PTSD both from that and from what has occurred over the last more than three years.”
Houweling said the CCTV footage showed Guy “pulling her towards him while maintaining a grip around her neck and upper shoulder area as she attempted to pull away”.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush on Friday told 3AW that video footage taken inside the venue was the decisive evidence for investigators.
“Often it is a matter of perception, but we deal with reality, and we deal with evidence. And that is what we have made our decision based on,” he said. “It is mainly based on the video that is in the public domain ... I think everybody has come to a similar conclusion.”
Guy on Friday said there was no ambiguity in the security camera footage.
“I did not do what was alleged. The CCTV proves this, it did from the start, and Victoria Police agree,” he said at the time.
Wilson on Monday reiterated that Guy deserved an apology, and said she had explained that to Deeming personally.
The opposition leader previously said she would meet with Deeming in person once she returns from an overseas conference.
Houweling said Deeming had accepted the offer to meet with senior Liberals to “continue working towards an internal resolution”.
There is a broad consensus within the Victorian Liberals that Deeming cannot remain within the party following the saga.
Several senior Liberal figures, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal party matters, told The Age that Deeming’s accusation had exhausted the patience of even her most loyal supporters, and she was now completely isolated from the party.
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