Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson has stated that Dinesh Gourisetty, who recently defeated Moira Deeming in a preselection vote, is “not welcome” on her team. This follows the revelation that Gourisetty wrote a court character reference for a friend, Kashyap Patel, who was convicted of grooming a 15-year-old girl.
Controversy Surrounds Preselection Outcome
Gourisetty won the preselection vote on Sunday for candidates in the western metropolitan region ahead of the November election. However, he has informed the party executive he does not intend to step down despite Wilson’s disapproval.
According to a letter from Gourisetty to the executive, he was unaware that Kashyap Patel would plead guilty to charges of grooming, sexual assault, and transmitting indecent communication to a child under 16 when he wrote the character reference in 2024. The charges stemmed from Patel’s actions in 2021, resulting in a nine-month prison sentence.
Reference Context
Judge Peter Rozen, in his sentencing remarks, noted Patel was “a man of otherwise good character” as evidenced by character references, including one from Gourisetty, who was described as a “good friend of four years”. Gourisetty stated he believed Patel was contesting the charges at the time and that the letter was drafted by a lawyer, reflecting his personal experience with Patel as a party member.
Gourisetty has unequivocally condemned Patel’s actions and drew parallels to character references provided by former Prime Ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard for Cardinal George Pell, whose conviction was later overturned by the High Court.
There is conflicting information regarding Gourisetty’s initial response to the situation. While party president Philip Davis emailed the executive committee stating Gourisetty had withdrawn his candidacy, Gourisetty maintains he did not formally withdraw and does not intend to do so. He stated he briefly considered stepping aside “in a moment of distress” on Monday morning.
Gourisetty secured 39 votes to Deeming’s 26 in the preselection vote, while Trung Luu received three votes and retained the second position on the ballot.
Potential Fallout
The situation could lead to further divisions within the Victorian Liberal party. The party will attempt to pressure Gourisetty to withdraw his candidacy, or that the issue will continue to escalate leading up to the November election. Alternatively, the party may attempt to downplay the controversy and move forward with Gourisetty as a candidate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted Jess Wilson’s statement about Dinesh Gourisetty?
Jess Wilson stated Gourisetty was “not welcome” on her team after it was revealed he wrote a character reference for a man convicted of grooming a 15-year-old girl.
Did Dinesh Gourisetty know about the charges when he wrote the reference?
Gourisetty stated in a letter that he did not know Kashyap Patel would plead guilty to the charges at the time he wrote the reference, believing Patel was contesting the charges.
What was the outcome of the preselection vote?
Dinesh Gourisetty defeated Moira Deeming in the preselection vote with 39 votes to Deeming’s 26. Trung Luu received three votes and retained the second position on the ballot.
How will this internal conflict impact the Victorian Liberal party’s chances in the upcoming November election?
