Ex-Liberal leader’s ultimatum after assault accusation
William Ton |
A former state Liberal leader has threatened his colleague with a “harder” option unless she publicly apologises for accusing him of assault.
Victorian Liberal MP Matthew Guy broke his silence after police found no evidence to support an allegation by Moira Deeming that he assaulted her at a function in May.
“Moira Deeming owes me a public apology. I’m (also) owed an apology by the premier and the attorney-general,” he said in a statement outside parliament on Friday.
“They can come to me the honourable and easy way, or a harder way.”
It emerged on Wednesday that Mrs Deeming had reported the alleged assault by Mr Guy to police in June, however footage of the incident that surfaced the same day does not appear to show any violence.
In a statement late on Thursday, Victoria Police said “there was no offence detected” during the incident, which happened on May 23 at a function venue in Sunshine West.
“The woman did not require medical attention,” police said.
“Investigators have engaged with the woman who made the report.”
Mr Guy had endured immense personal and professional harm as a consequence of the allegations, his lawyer Candice Almeida said.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny had earlier on Thursday suggested Opposition Leader Jess Wilson had questions to answer about her knowledge of and response to the allegation.
Ms Kilkenny fronted the media on Friday morning before Mr Guy’s statement and again pressed Ms Wilson on the questions, but conceded she had not watched the CCTV footage.
“It’s an important matter for (Ms Wilson). It’s an important matter for Victorians to know her partyroom is in chaos,” Ms Kilkenny told reporters.
The CCTV footage of the incident shows Mr Guy sitting at a table and talking with Mrs Deeming and another man.
The former leader appears to place his hand on Mrs Deeming’s upper back or shoulder area and pulling her in to say something before doing a similar gesture with the man.
Ms Wilson said she was devastated for Mr Guy and has requested a meeting with Mrs Deeming once she returns from overseas.
“Matthew does deserve an apology. I think that is entirely reasonable that he has asked for that,” she said.
Mr Guy on Friday said his family name and reputation was “not a political toy”.
“No one’s is, and so I want, and my family deserve, those apologies, particularly from Moira Deeming,” he said.
“There was no ambiguity. I did not do what was alleged. The CCTV proves this. It did from the start, and Victoria Police agree.”
AAP