URGENT UPDATE: Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming faces backlash after inflammatory comments likening Premier Daniel Andrews to a dictator amid an ongoing manhunt for the alleged killer of two police officers. The criticism comes as the state mourns the loss of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, aged 59, and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart, aged 35, who were shot dead in Porepunkah.
The comments made during a parliamentary debate on July 12, 2023, have sparked outrage, with many questioning the appropriateness of her remarks during such a sensitive time. Deeming accused Andrews of using police as his “personal army” during pandemic lockdowns, and claimed that only “authoritarian regimes” erect statues while their leaders are still alive.
In her heated speech, Deeming stated, “We should be erring on the side of the tradition that honours leaders who did not lead their people into mass starvation and violence.” She argued that the push for a statue of Andrews, who has surpassed 3,000 days in office, reflects political dominance rather than true leadership.
The Liberal Party’s internal dynamics are also under scrutiny as Opposition Leader Brad Battin expressed his disappointment at Deeming and her colleague Ann-Marie Hermans, who supported her petition. Battin reportedly told party members that their comments diverted attention from the critical issues facing Victorians during this tragic week.
Speaking outside the parliament, Hermans acknowledged her choice of words could have been “wiser,” particularly in drawing comparisons to Joseph Stalin, stating, “I wouldn’t want that,” referring to genocide. Nonetheless, she maintained that Andrews’ leadership aligns with a “Marxist ideology.”
The police minister, Anthony Carbines, condemned the remarks as “deeply offensive to police,” emphasizing the need for focus on the community’s grief. He noted the timing of their statements was particularly inappropriate as he attended a press conference discussing the officers’ deaths and other recent tragedies, including a school bus accident.
Meanwhile, the man suspected of the officers’ deaths, Dezi Freeman, has a known history of involvement with “sovereign citizen” movements. Court records reveal his graphic rhetoric towards police, referring to them as “terrorist thugs” and “Gestapo.” Freeman was previously arrested during a protest against Andrews in 2021, where he faced allegations related to sexual offenses.
As the community grapples with this profound loss, the focus shifts to what actions will be taken next. The Victorian public is left to ponder the implications of Deeming and Hermans’ statements as the Liberal Party navigates fallout from this controversy while grappling with a tragedy that has shaken law enforcement and citizens alike.
Stay tuned for further developments as this situation unfolds, and as more details emerge regarding the ongoing manhunt for Freeman and the community’s response to the loss of two dedicated officers.
