Senior Victorian Liberal MP Georgie Crozier said it was "ridiculous" anyone would miss the gathering for a hair appointment and she was surprised to discover the real reason, after initially giving Mrs Deeming permission thinking it was to attend a child's medical appointment.
Ms Crozier testified about the February 2023 incident during the high-stakes defamation showdown between Mrs Deeming and Victoria's Opposition Leader John Pesutto.
Georgie Crozier said "you don't get your hair done at parliament". (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
The now-independent MP is suing her former boss over comments he made after a March 2023 Let Women Speak rally that was gatecrashed by men in black who performed a Nazi salute in March 2023.
Texts revealed in the Federal Court on Thursday showed in February 2023, Mrs Deeming asked Mrs Crozier for permission to miss a partyroom meeting without going into details.
The meeting coincided with the day of her maiden speech to parliament.
Mrs Deeming's barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC put to Ms Crozier that her client was "scolded" for not attending despite providing notice, which Ms Crozier rejected.
"It's parliament, you don't get your hair done at parliament," she said.
Ms Chrysanthou asked if Ms Crozier, who does not have children, had taken her client's parental responsibilities into account after the Liberal MP insisted she was aware of colleagues who have to juggle responsibilities.
In her response, Ms Crozier said a hair appointment was not a sufficient reason to miss a partyroom meeting.
Mr Pesutto has denied any wrongdoing against Mrs Deeming, who first received a nine-month suspension from the Liberals before being expelled two months later.
Deputy leader David Southwick previously told the court he secretly recorded a meeting between Mrs Deeming and senior party Liberals after the rally as an "insurance policy".
The 70-minute recording was revealed to lawyers just one week before the trial started, and Ms Crozier said she was "shocked" to discover it existed.
The trial continues.
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