Federal Liberal senator Sarah Henderson pressures Victorian Liberal leader not to dump MP Moira Deeming

Federal Liberal senator Sarah Henderson has been personally lobbying Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto not to expel controversial MP Moira Deeming from the party room.

The ABC understands Senator Henderson has personally sent Mr Pesutto messages urging him not to take action against Ms Deeming. 

The ABC has not seen the messages but has been briefed by sources who have been told by Mr Pesutto about Ms Henderson’s intervention.

Senator Henderson’s advocacy puts the issue into the federal arena ahead of a scheduled visit to Canberra tomorrow by British anti-trans-rights campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull.

Ms Deeming is fighting to remain in Coalition ranks after Mr Pesutto declared he would remove her for “organising, promoting and attending” the anti-trans-rights rally on the weekend that was gatecrashed by far-right extremists who performed Nazi salutes.

Mr Pesutto moved a motion to expel her as a member of the parliamentary Liberal Party, declaring her position “untenable”.

“Moira Deeming not only attended this protest on the steps of parliament, but was actively involved in different ways in the organisation and promotion of this protest at which there were speakers with known links to neo-Nazis,” he said on Monday.

Ms Deeming vowed to fight the move, saying she had done nothing wrong.

“My intention is to fight and to remain a member of the team. I hope that my colleagues draw the line and say enough, and that I am able to fight alongside them,” Ms Deeming said in a statement.

“I hope that when I have the opportunity to present the facts as they occurred, that my colleagues will stand on principle and vote down the motion to have me expelled.”

Ms Deeming defended her participation in the rally and accused “extreme left counter protesters” of infiltrating the event and assaulting speakers, police and horses.

She condemned the actions of the masked men, who she said were “later identified as neo-Nazis, who gatecrashed the Let Women Speak (LWS) event”.

“Most of the LWS supporters did not realise who they were until they were being escorted out by Victoria Police, when they did the despicable Nazi salute,” Ms Deeming said.

Senior Liberals speaking on the condition of anonymity have questioned Mr Pesutto’s decision, saying Ms Deeming’s views on trans rights were well known before the election.

The former teacher and City of Melton councillor used her inaugural speech last month to call for an inquiry into transition practices and criticised measures to include trans women in female-only change rooms and sports.

MPs told the ABC there was also concern about Mr Pesutto’s timing, given the government was this week set to face pressure on a range of issues: Robert Redlich’s IBAC letter, minister Danny Pearson’s share portfolio and controversial legislation on protected sources for Victoria Police.

However, Mr Pesutto said he was “confident” the party would back him in a vote.

Senator Henderson has been contacted for comment.