Internal Crisis Grips Victorian Liberal Party Following Assault Allegations Between MPs

The Victorian Liberal Party has been plunged into instability just five months before the state election, after a female MP accused a party colleague of assaulting her during a community gathering.

Sources close to the accused MP state that he vehemently denies the claims and is currently exploring potential defamation legal action against the colleague.

Guardian Australia has opted not to identify the individuals involved; however, both parties have been contacted for comment. CCTV footage of the encounter has surfaced and has been reviewed by the publication.

Victoria Police confirmed they are investigating reports of an assault involving a man and a woman at a function last month. In a statement, police noted that the woman left the scene without requiring medical attention and that the incident was officially reported on June 16.

“The investigation into the incident remains ongoing and police believe the people involved are known to each other,” the statement added.

It is understood that the woman initially brought the allegations to the party’s attention before referring the matter to law enforcement.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson declined to comment on the specifics of the case, citing the active police investigation. “Like every other Victorian, the parties involved deserve due process, the presumption of innocence and their privacy respected while this is investigated,” Wilson stated on Thursday.

Wilson added that her primary focus remains on the issues affecting Victorians to ensure the state can have a “fresh start” in November.

Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny has challenged Wilson to answer ten specific questions regarding the allegations, questioning whether it is “appropriate for a member of her caucus to be in the party room when they are the subject of a complaint to police.”

Kilkenny further inquired if the matter had been referred to the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Commission. Established by the Labor government in late 2024 to probe parliamentary misconduct, the commission declined to confirm whether a referral had been received or if an investigation is underway, stating that such a policy “protects the integrity of our processes and ensures procedural fairness for all parties involved.”

The timing of the allegation places significant pressure on Wilson. Since taking the leadership in November, she had successfully stabilized a party long plagued by ideological conflict between its moderate and conservative wings.

The party is also contending with a rise in support for One Nation, which threatens the Liberals’ path to forming a majority government.

Wilson recently began a five-week tour across all 88 electorates to position the Coalition as a government-in-waiting. While she was scheduled to be in Melbourne on Thursday before heading to regional Victoria, it is understood that planned media events have been cancelled.

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