Labor MPs John Eren and Adem Somyurek in robust confrontation

TWO Labor MPs who faced off during a heated confrontation in State Parliament say they have settled their differences and will not pursue formal complaints.

Minister John Eren. Picture: Hamish Blair

TWO Labor MPs who faced off during a heated confrontation in State Parliament say they have settled their differences and will not pursue formal complaints.

Sports Minister John Eren and former minister Adem Somyurek have released a joint statement, following allegations Mr Somyurek brandished a butter knife and Mr Eren acted in a threatening manner during a bizarre public spat in the members’ dining room.

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The pair, who are factional enemies, say they consider the matter “closed”, after Mr Somyurek apologised for his “colourful language”.

“Furthermore, it is important to note that we categorically reject that alcohol played any part in this,” the statement says.

The statement was released on Twitter at about the time Barnaby Joyce was scheduled to hold a press conference on his future.

It comes after Mr Eren accused Mr Somyurek of grabbing a butter knife during a heated exchange in the private dining area on Wednesday night.

The butterknife accusations are not mentioned in the statement.

Adem Somyurek. Picture: Tim Carrafa

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Mr Somyurek yesterday rubbished the claim and accused an agitated Mr Eren of haranguing him during the “robust” exchange in their native Turkish language. “At no point was I holding a butter knife. At no time did I threaten anyone,” he said in a statement.

Gaming Minister Marlene Kairouz, who saw the bizarre ruckus, backed Mr Somyurek, saying: “I did not see a knife in anyone’s hand and I did not see any physical altercation.”

But Mr Eren has told friends that Mr Somyurek told him, “I’m going to f--- you”, before allegedly clenching the piece of cutlery in one hand.

The spat over a factional power struggle threatens to unleash a civil war in the party, which could significantly affect Mr Shorten’s base.

Mr Eren said he was prepared to make a statutory declaration to back his version, but told the parliament he would not comment further until a formal probe was completed.

In parliament, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy ­accused Mr Eren of drinking before the altercation, and asked Premier Daniel ­Andrews if he would stand down his minister.

Marlene Kairouz says she “did not see a knife in anyone’s hand”. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Eren’s supporters denied claims that the minister was drunk. Mr Eren has produced his bar tab that has only one glass of wine on it.

A senior government minister said while witnesses had reported a heated discussion, he had been told that a knife had not been picked up.

“I mean, a butter knife? What’s next: ‘He threatened me with a salt shaker?’ ” he said.

A day of drama on Thursday began with crisis meetings between Mr ­Andrews and his senior ministers.

Then Mr Somyurek’s enemies leaked a ­series of furious text messages that he had sent to Mr Eren this month.

In one message, seen by the Herald Sun, Mr Somyurek calls federal Labor MP Richard Marles — an ally of Mr Eren — a “----” and accuses him of leaking to a newspaper.

“I’m going to f--- that Marles. I better not see that ----,” it says.

“No one f--- (sic) lies to (sic) and rat f---s like that and gets way (sic) with it.”

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The opposition used parliamentary question time to ask Premier Daniel Andrews about the dispute. Picture: Kym Smith

The bitter infighting is over a factional realignment of Labor’s Right wing, led by Mr Somyurek and resisted by Mr Marles.

The new stability agreement pushed by Mr Somyurek would see the Right wing of the party united, while the industrial Left unions would also join the pact in Victoria.

But the new deal would leave MPs who were aligned to former federal powerbroker Stephen Conroy out in the cold, and tensions have simmered for months during factional negotiations.
One MP said: “There are always winners and losers in these deals.”

Exposing the brawl is aimed at damaging Mr Somyurek, who was stood down from Cabinet in 2015 after a bullying complaint was lodged by his former chief of staff.

But a supporter of Mr Somyurek said: “John Eren has been weaponised by his masters and sent out to wreak havoc in an attempt to blow up a new factional arrangement.

“I’ve never seen anything like this, except the last time they did this to Adem,” the MP said.

The crisis threatens to embroil Mr Shorten, who is supportive of the Right wing uniting as he faces pressure from other elements.

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Other MPs said the texts were “unhinged” and showed “the power has gone to Adem’s head”.

There are also warnings being issued that a full and proper review of the issues should be addressed, and should not be swept under the carpet “for the sake of the government”.

A fourth witness to the ugly stoush, Labor Right backbencher Natalie Suleyman, has refused to comment on her version of events. Mr Eren had arrived at the parliamentary bar by about 6.30pm on Wednesday, where he met with colleagues.

He had been in an intense discussion with Mr Suleyman in a mixture of Turkish and English.

He was in the bar with at least three other Labor MPs, and one said Mr Eren only drank one glass of wine.

One MP said: “It was clear they were talking about the factional stuff. John was very calm throughout.”

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