Former Liberal frontbencher Sophie Mirabella is no stranger to the tussles of federal politics but struggled emotionally when a country Victorian newspaper accused her of pushing a political opponent.

Ms Mirabella is suing weekly newspaper The Benalla Ensign and its editor Libby Price in the Victorian County Court over an April 2016 article about an encounter with Indi member Cathy McGowan.

Sophie Mirabella arrives at court in Wangaratta on Friday. Credit:AAP

Ms Mirabella, who lost the seat to Ms McGowan in 2013, says the article defamed her by falsely claiming she pushed the incumbent MP out of the way of a photograph for her own political benefit.

"This was just a total whack as a candidate," she told the court on Friday.