In a significant development for Victoria's Liberal party, police have concluded an investigation into allegations of assault made by MP Moira Deeming against her colleague Matthew Guy. The outcome, that "no offence was detected," is a major blow to Ms Deeming's claims, which she had reported to authorities on 16 June following the alleged incident at a Macedonian community event in Sunshine on 23 May.
The investigation, which was conducted over four weeks, involved thorough scrutiny of reports of an assault on a woman by a man at a function venue on Sommerville Road in Sunshine West. While Matthew Guy, opposition spokesperson for public transport, had strongly denied the allegations and considered taking legal action against Ms Deeming for defamation, he has since maintained that the police finding vindicates his position.
In response to the investigation's conclusion, Jess Wilson, leader of the Victorian opposition, reiterates her commitment to respecting due process and upholding the presumption of innocence. She stresses that both parties involved deserve their privacy to be respected while this matter is closed. Meanwhile, attention now shifts back to internal dynamics within the Liberal party as they navigate these developments.
Notably, police confirmed that no medical attention was required by the woman who made the report, and investigators engaged with her throughout the inquiry. This outcome underscores the extensive effort put into the investigation, which had drawn considerable attention from within Victoria's political circles.