Victorian Liberals Scramble for Upper House Seat Amidst Character Reference Controversy
The Victorian Liberal Party is facing internal turmoil and a significant shake-up for a key upper house position, following revelations about a candidate who recently secured preselection. Dinesh Gourisetty, who narrowly defeated incumbent Moira Deeming for a prime spot on the Liberal ticket for the western metropolitan region in the upcoming November election, is now at the centre of a major controversy.
The controversy stems from a character reference Gourisetty provided for a friend, Kashyap Patel, who was subsequently convicted of grooming and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. The incident has thrown the Liberal Party’s candidate selection process into disarray, forcing a new preselection convention to be held for the crucial top spot on the ticket.
The Gourisetty Revelation and Party Response
Following the preselection vote on Sunday, information emerged regarding Mr Gourisetty’s involvement in a court case. The Victorian Liberal leader, Jess Wilson, was quick to distance herself and the party from Gourisetty, stating he was “not welcome” on her team. Party president Philip Davis confirmed in a statement that Gourisetty had withdrawn his candidacy, although Gourisetty himself has contested this, claiming he had not formally done so and was considering his options in a moment of distress.
Mr Davis’s statement indicated that the party executive had received information of a “serious nature” concerning Gourisetty after the convention had concluded. This led to the resolution that a new convention would be necessary for the top spot on the ticket, with Gourisetty deemed ineligible to participate. The question of whether Moira Deeming will re-contest the preselection remains open.
Gourisetty’s Defence: A Matter of Trust and Intent
In a letter obtained by Guardian Australia, Gourisetty detailed his perspective on the character reference he wrote for Kashyap Patel. Gourisetty stated that at the time of writing the reference in 2024, he was unaware that Patel would plead guilty to charges of grooming, sexually assaulting, and transmitting indecent communications to a child under 16. The charges related to Patel’s actions towards a 15-year-old girl in 2021, for which he was convicted and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment.
The judge presiding over Patel’s sentencing, Peter Rozen, had noted Patel as a “man of otherwise good character,” referencing three character references submitted to the court, including Gourisetty’s. Gourisetty claimed he had been “led to believe” Patel was contesting the charges and maintaining his innocence. He further explained that the letter was drafted by a lawyer and reflected only his personal experience of Patel as a party member and volunteer, and not knowledge of the full extent of the allegations.
“I had no knowledge of the seriousness or full nature of the allegations. I acted in good faith, based on what I knew at the time,” Gourisetty’s letter stated. He unequivocally condemned Patel’s actions, emphasising that they were unacceptable and that he did not support or excuse them in any way.
Gourisetty also drew parallels to public figures, citing former Prime Ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard, who had provided character references or expressed personal support for individuals facing serious allegations based on their own understanding at the time. He specifically referenced their references for Cardinal George Pell, whose conviction was later overturned. Gourisetty requested that his actions be viewed with the same “lens of fairness and intent.”
He expressed heartbreak at being “pushed towards withdrawing, and even advised to consider resigning from the party I have served with dedication for so many years,” highlighting his 15 years of service to the Liberal Party.
Internal Divisions and Preselection Battles
Gourisetty’s account of his withdrawal differs from Mr Davis’s communication to the executive committee, which stated Gourisetty had advised him of his withdrawal. This discrepancy places Gourisetty in direct opposition to Jess Wilson’s stance.
Wilson had actively supported Moira Deeming in the preselection contest. Reports suggest Gourisetty secured preselection with 39 votes to Deeming’s 26, with Trung Luu receiving three votes. Luu retained the second position on the ballot, a vote Deeming did not contest.
This is not Gourisetty’s first attempt at preselection; he had previously failed in 2022, partly due to breaches of the food safety act to which he pleaded guilty in 2019. This time, however, he reportedly garnered significant support from multiple branches in Melbourne’s western suburbs and within the party’s executive committee, which has recently seen a shift towards the moderate faction under Philip Davis.
The controversy has exposed deep divisions within the Victorian Liberal Party. One executive committee member, reportedly not aligned with Davis, sent an email to the committee accusing the “party’s factional left” of backing a “pedophile supporter.” The email also criticised the decision to replace Deeming, calling it a “disaster” even before the court document surfaced, and questioned the vetting process.
A senior Liberal source indicated that Gourisetty would not have been preselected had the information about the character reference been known earlier, suggesting the timing of the revelation was intended to cause “maximum damage” to the moderate faction. The vetting process for candidates is now under intense scrutiny.
