Moira Deeming steps up in Werribee by-election as Liberals target Labor’s stronghold.
Victorian Liberal leader Brad Battin has positioned Moira Deeming as a central figure in the party’s strategy for the upcoming Werribee by-election, marking his first significant test since assuming leadership. Speaking on Tuesday 8th of January, Mr Battin outlined the “very important role” Ms Deeming will play as the Liberals aim to make inroads in the traditionally Labor-stronghold seat.
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The by-election, scheduled for February 8, was triggered by the resignation of long-serving Labor MP and former Treasurer Tim Pallas, who held the seat for 18 years and secured a commanding 60.9 per cent of the two-party preferred vote in 2022.
At a press conference unveiling his shadow cabinet, Mr Battin revealed his expectations for Ms Deeming. When asked about her potential for a frontbench position, he emphasised her strategic importance in the Werribee campaign.
“I’ve been speaking to Moira Deeming, and I’ve given her a very important role – and that is we need to focus on Werribee,” Mr Battin stated. “The change starts on February 8. We’ll be going into that election with the intention to get the best result we can for the Victorian Liberal Party.”
Ms Deeming, alongside Western Metropolitan Legislative Council colleague Trung Luu, will collaborate with the yet-to-be-announced Liberal candidate to present voters with what Mr Battin described as a “genuine alternative” to Labor.
Her return to the Liberal party room on December 27 coincided with Mr Battin’s ascension to the leadership, following a contentious period marked by her 18-month exile and subsequent defamation court victory against former leader John Pesutto.
The Werribee by-election comes amid broader scrutiny of Labor’s dominance in Melbourne’s western suburbs. As previously reported by Wyndham TV, Labor has faced mounting criticism over unfulfilled promises in the region, sparking fresh opportunities for the Liberals to gain traction.
With Ms Deeming’s renewed visibility and a leadership eager to make a statement, the Werribee by-election will serve as an early indicator of Mr Battin’s ability to reposition the Liberal Party as a competitive force in Victoria.
