Adem Somyurek successfully refers himself to upper house Privileges Committee for investigation

Adem Somyurek has succeeded in a bizarre bid to have his own conduct investigated ahead of the November state election.

Former Labor powerbroker Adem Somyurek has successfully referred himself to a powerful parliamentary committee that can examine his conduct and draw the spotlight back on the misuse of public money.

The unusual move by the state MP comes after he was investigated by the Independent Broad-Based Anti-corruption Commission over allegations of misconduct.

This includes the alleged use of taxpayer funded staffers for political and factional work.

In an effort to bring the issue to a head, Mr Somyurek has referred himself to the upper house Privileges Committee to examine the allegations in time for a November election.

He did so because IBAC’s final report may not be released until after the poll.

Former Victorian Labor MP Adem Somyurek has succeeded in his unusual move. Picture: Ian Currie

Mr Somyurek denies he has breached the rules of a minister or an MP and argues there are no laws against him directing staff in the way he did.

On Wednesday, Mr Somyurek successfully passed the motion to refer himself to the inquiry.

“The motion passed,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Now let a thousand flowers bloom!”

An inquiry into Mr Somyurek’s conduct will provide a headache for both him and the Andrews government.

A public hearing would revisit concerns about the use of his staff for factional activity and the work they did for the taxpayer.

But it would also allow him to revisit accusations that similar behaviour was widespread across Labor, including Premier Daniel Andrews’ own Socialist Left faction.

If he is cleared of wrongdoing, it may also provide him with a platform to remain in public life but it is unlikely to affect the outcomes of the IBAC probe.

Originally published as Adem Somyurek successfully refers himself to upper house Privileges Committee for investigation