Cost of paying out staff of Adem Somyurek and Jenny Mikakos revealed

Premier Daniel Andrews has been accused of having his hand in “every Victorian’s pocket” over payout costs.

Adem Somyurek’s sacking left five people out of work. Picture: AAP

The former staff of sacked minister Adem Somyurek and resigned health minister Jenny Mikakos have shared in an almost $1m windfall.

It brings to more than $2m in taxpayer-funded payouts handed to 25 staff of ministers forced out of cabinet this year.

Twelve staff were paid $967,867 in redundancies after Mr Somyurek was sacked by Daniel Andrews in June and Ms Mikakos resigned in September.

Mr Somyurek’s axing left five people out of work, with each taking home an average $24,000.

Seven people lost their jobs when Ms Mikakos resigned with average payouts totalling $120,000.

The figures were confirmed in a Freedom of Information request by the state opposition.

Seven people lost their jobs when Jenny Mikakos quit. Picture: Getty

Mr Somyurek and Ms Mikakos were among four Andrews government ministers to leave the cabinet under a cloud this year.

Mr Somyurek was sacked from the cabinet and given a life ban from Labor after being embroiled in a branch-stacking scandal.

Assistant treasurer Robin Scott and Marlene Kairouz stood down from their cabinet positions after being linked to the alleged corruption.

Six people from Mr Scott’s office shared in $637,000 while seven from Ms Kairouz’s offices shared in $506,000.

Ms Mikakos resigned abruptly in the midst of Victoria’s fight against coronavirus after being infuriated by Mr Andrews’ evidence at the hotel quarantine inquiry.

Mr Andrews had nominated Ms ­Mikakos as bearing responsibility for the disastrous hotel quarantine operation, due to the health department being the control agency in a pandemic.

Opposition spokesman James Newbury accused the Premier of having “his hand in every Victorian’s pocket”.

“People are hurting. Every dollar wasted hurts more than ever before,’’ he said.

A government spokesman said: “Ministerial staff are paid their entitlements when ­ministers resign their commissions.”