June 25, 2026 — 10:51amLiberal MP Moira Deeming has accused a former leader of her party, Matthew Guy, of assaulting her by putting her in a violent headlock at a public function.CCTV footage of the episode has undermined the veracity of Deeming’s claim, with the footage instead showing a seemingly innocuous interaction between two colleagues leaning in to talk to one another in a noisy room.The interaction between Matthew Guy and Moira Deeming at a Macedonian community event last month.The AgeDeeming’s allegation, which Victoria Police is investigating, has dismayed and angered Liberal MPs. It has also created a fresh headache for Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, who is sympathetic to Guy but determined to treat Deeming’s grievance with respect.Deeming and Guy declined to comment to this masthead.Matthew Guy (right) and Moira Deeming (second from left) at the May 23 event in a photo posted by the former Liberal leader.FacebookThe interaction between Deeming and Guy at the centre of her complaint to police took place at a Macedonian community function on May 23 inside the Sheldon Reception ballroom in Sunshine West.It happened about 10 minutes after Guy posted photos on social media of him and Deeming smiling together with community members.CCTV footage from the venue taken from multiple angles shows Deeming and Guy sitting at the same table, separated by a young staff member who works for Deeming. As they lean in to talk to one another, Guy puts his right arm across Deeming’s shoulder.Guy then repeats the gesture in a separate interaction with Deeming’s staffer.Deeming has confirmed to Wilson’s office that this is the physical contact she now alleges was assault.Guy has not been interviewed by police but has vehemently denied to colleagues that anything untoward took place. He has told colleagues Deeming did not raise any concerns at the dinner.This masthead has been told by two sources with knowledge of the sequence of events that Guy became aware of the allegations against him on June 12, after Deeming complained about his conduct to Wilson’s office.Deeming made the same allegation against Guy to a senior party member during a chance encounter in Collins Street this month. That conversation was also relayed to Guy.Wilson’s office sought advice and provided Deeming with three options, according to a source familiar with the discussions who was not permitted to speak publicly.Wilson’s office stressed that if it was a criminal matter, Deeming should go to police.Wilson’s office suggested that it was a workplace complaint, Deeming could either take it to the Parliamentary Workplace Standards Commission or seek to have it resolved through internal party processes.Deeming (second from left) poses for a selfie taken by Guy (right) at the event in a photo posted by the former Liberal leader.FacebookDeeming in her dealings with Wilson’s office rejected all three options. She subsequently made a formal complaint to police on June 16.A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that police were investigating reports of an alleged assault in Sunshine West on May 23 and that the incident involved two people known to each other.“The women left the area following the incident and did not require medical attention,” the spokesperson said.The CCTV footage has been provided to police.In a statement, Wilson said: “This matter is now with Victoria Police and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.“Like every other Victorian, the parties involved deserve due process, the presumption of innocence and their privacy respected while this is investigated.”Multiple Liberal MPs contacted this masthead to vent their frustration at Deeming and express support for Guy, who they claim is the subject of a false allegation.“I’m desperately upset for Matthew,” one said. “He is the victim in this. Why do we have to keep going through this?“Moira Deeming has accused Matthew of violently and viciously attacking her, putting her in a headlock at a Macedonian function. The CCTV footage shows the complete opposite.”Deeming, after reviewing the footage of her interaction with Guy, is standing by her allegations. She has described what happened in varying terms to different people, but insists that Guy’s treatment of her at the dinner was rough, unwelcome and degrading.Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room in May 2023, five months after she was elected to an upper house seat, after she initiated legal action against her then leader, John Pesutto, for defamation.Deeming was readmitted to the party room at the end of 2024 after she won her defamation case and Brad Battin replaced Pesutto as leader. She was preselected this year to stand again in her Western Metropolitan seat after it was revealed that her rival candidate earlier provided a character reference to a convicted child sex offender.Members of the Victorian Liberal Party’s governing board, the administrative committee, are suing other members over the committee’s majority decision to approve the use of party funds to cover the legal costs that Pesutto owed Deeming.Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.From our partners