Former Liberal frontbencher Sophie Mirabella has launched a defamation action against a small Victorian country newspaper and a well-known former ABC journalist over a story claiming she shoved political rival Cathy McGowan at a photo opportunity during last year's election.

Ms Mirabella filed a writ in the Victorian County Court last week against Benalla Newspapers Pty Ltd, publisher of the Benalla Ensign, and former ABC presenter Libby Price, the paper's editor.

Cathy McGowan and Sophie Mirabella during a campaign event. Credit:Shana Morgan/Border Mail

The action centres around a story the Ensign ran on page four in April last year under the headline "Awkward encounter", which alleged that Ms Mirabella had "very publicly pushed" Ms McGowan at a photo opportunity.

The story, which was also published online, came in the lead-up to last year's federal election, in which both Ms Mirabella and Ms McGowan were competing for the regional seat of Indi.