Expelled Liberal MP Moira Deeming said gay and transgender people were her "biggest fans" in a new recording unearthed as part of her defamation battle with Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto.
Mrs Deeming said she does not hold "homophobic or transphobic views" in the audio played in the Federal Court on Thursday, which was the second time an unexpected recording has emerged during the trial.
"There is no evidence I have those views," Mrs Deeming said in the recording.
"My biggest fans are gay people and trans people."
Mrs Deeming said she could find a group of lesbians to stand with Mr Pesutto at a press conference and there's "no smoking gun" for anyone to reference, as he raised concerns reporters would "try to tear me to shreds".
Mrs Deeming is suing her former political boss over comments he made after she attended a transgender-critical Let Women Speak rally in March 2023 that was gatecrashed by men in black who performed the Nazi salute.
Earlier, the court was told Mrs Deeming had skipped a partyroom meeting in February 2023 while parliament was sitting so she could get her hair done.
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.
Texts revealed in court showed Mrs Deeming had asked Ms 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.
Mrs Deeming previously told the court the men in black who performed the salute had nothing to do with her rally and she did not see the gesture until they were escorted away by police.
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.
Mrs Crozier said she rejected any assertions that Mr Pesutto had lied in a press conference after the rally.
"It's my recollection he never accused Mrs Deeming of being a Nazi," she said.
Earlier in the week, deputy leader David Southwick said he secretly recorded a 70-minute meeting between Mrs Deeming and senior Liberals in the days after the rally as an "insurance policy".
