Inside MP Anthony Byrne’s bid for control over members
Embattled Federal Labor MP Anthony Byrne boasted about the number of party members he had under his control and even sent a photo of a stack of envelopes on his desk ready to be mailed to Labor head office.
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Embattled Federal Labor MP Anthony Byrne boasted about the number of party members he had under his control and even sent a photo of a stack of envelopes on his desk ready to be mailed to Labor head office.
In an April 2018 message, Mr Byrne boasted that he had “Got 43 ballot papers” alongside the photograph of a stack of envelopes addressed to the “Chief Returning Officer” at the Australian Labor Party.
In another leaked message, the MP for Holt in Melbourne’s southeast told fallen Andrews Government Minister Adem Somyurek he had “210 ballot papers that need to be filled out today” for an internal ALP election.
The revelation that Mr Byrne boasted about controlling ballot papers in internal Labor Party elections is likely to feature in the investigation of branch stacking allegations being undertaken by former Labor Premier Steve Bracks and former Federal Labor Minister Jenny Macklin.
Photos or discussion of a ballot paper being filled out by someone other than the member is likely to be considered prima facie evidence of branch stacking by any inquiry into the matter.
The latest leaked messages come after earlier revelations last week about Mr Byrne’s foul language and disparaging comment about his female colleagues.
They also throw light on Mr Somyurek’s claim this week that he had learned everything he knew about branch development work from Mr Byrne.
Mr Somyurek was this week banned for life by Labor’s national executive.
Mr Byrne has been under pressure over his role in the downfall of Mr Somyurek after it was revealed that much of the footage aired in an explosive bombshell report last Sunday had been shot in Mr Byrne’s Cranbourne West electorate office.
Mr Byrne has also under attack over his position as deputy chair of federal parliament’s Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
The bipartisan committee which is considered one of the most important in Canberra, deals with national security legislation matters which come before the federal parliament. Yesterday, Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and his deputy Richard Marles stood by Mr Byrne and his position in Canberra after foul mouthed text messages were leaked to the media.
Mr Albanese said he had “counselled” the Holt MP over the messages but would not be drawn on his position on the powerful parliamentary.
“I have counselled him about the nature of those text messages, they are inappropriate,” he said.
Mr Albanese’s deputy leader Richard Marles – a strong backer of his leader – said Mr Byrne had been a “wonderful servant of his community”.
“Albo has spoken with Anthony about that language. I’m not about to defend it,” Mr Marles said.
“But let me say this about Anthony Byrne, Anthony has been a wonderful servant of his community and of Labor throughout his career.
“He has played and continues to play a really important role, particularly on the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.”
Mr Marles said that while he was “not about to defend what Mr Byrne had said “he “absolutely” thinks he has a very important role to continue to play in politics.”
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