Moira Deeming criticised for describing police as Daniel Andrews’ ‘personal army’ in statue debate amid manhunt for alleged killer of two officers

<p>Victorian Liberal leader Brad Battin ‘disappointed’ in comments by two of his MPs as Deeming says debate was planned weeks before Porepunkah deaths</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/aug/27/porepunkah-shooting-live-updates-victoria-police-manhunt-latest-news-ntwnfb">Victoria police shooting live updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Victorian Liberal MPs Moira Deeming and Ann-Marie Hermans have been criticised for comparing Daniel Andrews to a dictator amid a manhunt for a so-called “sovereign citizen” who <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/27/victoria-police-shooting-update-porepunkah-alleged-suspect-gunman-bush-high-country-ntwnfb">allegedly killed two police officers</a>, with Deeming also accusing the former premier of using police as his “personal army” during Covid lockdowns.</p><p>Deeming on Wednesday night debated in parliament a petition she had sponsored opposing erecting a statue of Andrews. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/19/a-bronze-north-face-jacket-daniel-andrews-sized-up-for-statue-after-3000-days-as-premier">Passing the milestone of 3,000 days </a>as premier made him eligible for one, but the Allan government has maintained it has no immediate plans to act on it.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/28/moira-deeming-criticised-describing-police-daniel-andrews-personal-army-amid-victoria-shooting-dezi-freeman-manhunt">Continue reading...</a>