Victoria Police have closed their investigation into assault allegations made by Liberal MP Moira Deeming against Matthew Guy, the former leader of the opposition. Police concluded that Guy had done nothing wrong. The decision came after footage of what happened surfaced, according to the Herald Sun.

Deeming said Guy had put her in a headlock at a community event. Guy said this did not happen. Police investigated the complaint, per The Guardian and ABC News. Once they saw the footage, they made their decision quickly. No charges were filed.

Guy said publicly that he was thinking about taking legal action against Deeming while the police were still investigating. It is not yet clear whether he will do that now.

This incident is the latest chapter in a long and bitter history between Deeming and Guy within Victoria's Liberal Party. Deeming has strong conservative views on social issues. These have repeatedly put her in conflict with different party leaders over the years. In 2023, Guy removed her from the party's main meeting room because she attended a rally where some neo-Nazi protesters appeared. Deeming disagreed with that decision. She was eventually allowed back in. Guy himself left his position as opposition leader after the 2022 state election loss. He remains an important and controversial figure within the party.

It is unusual for two elected officials from the same party to file a formal assault complaint. That this case went to police rather than being handled privately by the party shows how badly their relationship has broken down. The fact that video footage existed and settled the matter is also worth noting. Without it, the two sides would have simply disagreed, and police might never have reached a clear answer.

For Guy, the police decision removes the legal threat he faced. It is harder to know what the broader damage will be. Once allegations about physical conduct between colleagues become public, they can damage a person's reputation even if they are later cleared. Guy may still pursue his legal case, though suing someone for defamation brings its own risks and political costs.

For Deeming, the investigation being closed found her complaint unproven. Inside a party already divided by factions, her opponents will use this against her. How it affects what voters in her district think depends on how the story plays out among the communities she has worked with on issues like parental rights — groups that do not usually pay close attention to inside-party disputes.

The Liberal Party in Victoria carries deep wounds going into its next election. Deeming and Guy's conflict is really about a deeper split between the party's moderate wing and its conservative wing. That division has not healed under different leaders, and this incident will not change that.