Former Premier Steve Bracks and ex-deputy federal leader Jenny Macklin take control of Vic Labor
Under a bold intervention amid branch-stacking allegations, Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin have been appointed administrators of Victorian Labor. It comes as sacked minister Adem Somyurek was visited by plain-clothed officials investigating the scandal.
VIC News
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Former Premier Steve Bracks and ex-deputy federal leader Jenny Macklin will take control of Victorian Labor under a bold intervention that also suspends all voting rights until 2023.
The pair have been appointed as administrators of the state branch, overseen by the powerful National Executive, until January next year, with all party officials and staff required to report to them.
Normal party procedures, including ballots and the work of committees, will be suspended.
Mr Bracks and Ms Macklin will also lead a review into the party and an initial report will be handed down by July 31.
It will include recommendations to improve integrity within Victorian Labor, with a final report to be handed down by November 1.
The National Executive will also conduct all preselections for the next state and federal state elections.
The reform plan was requested by Premier Daniel Andrews earlier today in a letter to Labor national secretary Paul Erickson.
“I have no confidence in the integrity of any voting rolls that are produced for any internal elections in the Victorian branch,” he wrote in a letter seen by the Herald Sun.
“Accordingly, we must suspend those elections and begin a long and critical process of validating each and every member of the Labor Party as genuine, consenting and self-funded.”
Mr Andrews’ proposal was ticked off by the national executive’s senior leadership today and is expected to be voted through by the full committee tonight.
He had worked closely with federal Labor leader Anthony Abanese on the intervention.
Mr Andrews said the plan would “guarantee integrity and probity in all of our affairs”.
He said he would not accept “yet another review that, while well intentioned, cannot and will not deliver the profound reform that is required”.
He said he had asked Mr Bracks and Ms Macklin to serve as administrators because he had “full confidence that they are best placed to undertake this work”.
Labor national president Wayne Swan locked in the federal takeover of the Victorian branch on Tuesday night.
He said Mr Bracks and Ms Macklin would be consulting with party members and affiliated unions.
“The conduct exposed in recent days is reprehensible and at odds with everything the ALP stands for,” Mr Swan said.
“The National Executive takes these matters incredibly seriously, and the gravity of this step cannot be understated.”
OFFICIALS VISIT SOMYUREK AMID BRANCH STACKING PROBE
Two plain-clothed officials have entered Adem Somyurek’s home carrying gloves and folders.
The man and woman were initially denied entry to his home after repeatedly knocking at the front door.
They returned to the property about 1pm and were ushered inside.
The pair were carrying folders containing documents and single-use gloves which could be used to examine evidence.
IBAC and Victoria Police are both involved in probing the alleged branch stacking scandal.
Mr Somyurek chose not to attend Victorian parliament today, with the disgraced politician missing at question time despite the scandal surrounding his dismissal dominating debate.
Opposition leader Michael O’Brien has suggested more trouble for Premier Daniel Andrews’ cabinet, warning mental health minister Martin Foley: “You could be number four.”
In a reference to the three cabinet ministers who were forced out of the ministry this week, Mr O’Brien suggested Mr Foley could be forced to follow suit.
It came after Mr Foley was quizzed about the conduct of his own ministerial staff, with the opposition leader singling out Mr Foley’s staffer, left faction convener Matt Hilakari.
Asked if Mr Hilakari had been involved in branch-stacking related activity from the minsiter’s office, Mr Foley said he expected all staff to act appropriately.
It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews told parliament he expects no other ministers or their staff have been involved in branch-stacking.
It comes under embattled minister Marlene Kairouz resigned this morning, making a hattrick of axed ministers in Victoria’s cabinet crisis.
The Premier came under fire from Mr O’Brien today, as parliament resumed for the first time since the branch-stacking scandal that has rocked the Victorian Labor Party.
Asked to explain whether Victorians could be confident in the Premier’s claim that he was unaware of branch-stacking activity within his party, he said “yes”.
Mr O’Brien sought a guarantee from the Premier that no other ministers or staff would be linked to branch-stacking activity.
And he sought a guarantee that any staffer found to be engaged in branch-stacking would be immediately sacked.
“It is my expectation, my experience, and the standard that I require that all ministers act appropriately at all times,” Mr Andrews said.
The opposition has also called for an independent audit of all ministerial staff work.
Speaking following the resignation of Ms Kairouz, who stood down from cabinet this morning, Mr Andrews said he would now await an IBAC investigation into the ministers.
— Watch a live stream from Victorian parliament here
“It’s not for me or anyone here to determine those matters,” he said.
Mr Andrews said he believed both Ms Kairouz and Mr Scott had made the right decision by resigning.
The Andrews Government faced questions about the behaviour of Dr Tien Kieu after one secret recording of Mr Somyurek indicated he would try to enlist the Upper House MP’s staff for his operation.
But most of these questions were rejected as they involved the conduct of staffers rather than Dr Kieu.
Independent MP Catherine Cumming also called on the Premier to hold a full review into decisions the factional powerbroker made in his portfolio as Local Government Minister.
Earlier, Liberal Democrats MP David Limbrick faced calls to be ejected from parliament other health concerns.
Mr Limbrick attended a Black Lives Matter protest but later tested negative for the virus.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Jeff Bourman left the house after Mr Limbrick was not ejected.
EMBATTLED KAIROUZ STEPS DOWN
Marlene Kairouz was the third Labor figure to step down in two days, joining sacked Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek and Assistant Treasurer Robin Scott.
“This morning I notified the Premier that I will stand aside from my ministerial responsibilities and notified the Governor of the resignation of my commission,” she said.
“It has been an enormous honour to serve the Victorian people across a number of portfolios including Suburban Development, Local Government and Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation.
“I no longer want these matters to be a distraction to the Government. They have placed enormous pressure on my family and caused them great distress.”
Ms Kairouz, who last night was defiantly rejecting calls to stand down, said she looked forward to the opportunity to clear her name and was confident any investigative process would do so.
“I note that these matters do not relate to any allegations of criminality or corruption,” she said.
“I will continue to serve my electorate of Kororoit, which remains the greatest honour of my life.”
Before her resignation, some of Ms Kairouz colleagues this morning said it was time she reflected on her role in light of fresh reports this morning linking her to Mr Somyurek’s branch-stacking scandal.
Treasurer Tim Pallas, police minister Lisa Neville and Attorney-General Jill Hennessy all called for Ms Kairouz to reflect on her role.
When asked if she should reconsider her future as a minister, Ms Neville said: “Yes.”
Senior members of Labor’s powerful national executive will meet today to determine their intervention into the party’s scandal-plagued Victorian branch.
The Herald Sun understands federal leader Anthony Albanese is committed to guaranteeing the preselection of all sitting federal MPs to protect them from challenges utilising branch-stacked numbers.
Ms Kairouz last night dug in on her position in cabinet, with Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday saying he believed the minister when she told him she had not done anything wrong, despite further secret recordings linking her to paid party memberships.
“I sought from them assurances that they had at all times behaved appropriately,” he said yesterday.
“They are continuing their work based on the assurances they have given me. I am confident that is the best way to go.”
Mr Andrews said yesterday he had full confidence in Ms Kairouz, after she was implicated in the branch-stacking scandal that saw Mr Somyurek sacked and prompted the resignation of Mr Scott.
“She confirmed for me, if you need a quote, here is the quote: ‘I’ve acted appropriately at all times.’ I’ve asked the minister whether she’s acted appropriately at all times, she has guaranteed me that she has,” Mr Andrews said yesterday.
But fresh allegations published by Nine newspapers overnight have claimed Ms Kairouz, a key ally of Mr Somyurek, was heavily involved in his alleged branch-stacking racket.
Covert recordings allegedly reveal her directing her parliamentary staff to work on boosting memberships in key branches.
Opposition leader Michael O’Brien said it was inappropriate for Ms Kairouz to continue serving in the cabinet pending those investigations.
Mr Andrews said yesterday it was now up to Victoria Police and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission to investigate.
“Those inquiries can run their course,” he said.
“If and when they make adverse findings … we will deal with those at the appropriate time.”
“These are serious matters and they need to be investigated. Not by a colleague (and) not by me.”
Ms Kairouz’s adviser and suspected bagman Nick McLennan was also filmed by 60 Minutes meeting with Mr Somyurek in a suburban car park and seemingly receiving cash.
Other recordings show her boasting about the size of the right-aligned factions and the power they wield within the parliament.
ALBO HOSES DOWN CLAIMS OF SOMYUREK’S INFLUENCE
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese has downplayed the influence disgraced Victorian MP Adem Somyurek had on the running of the party and on federal politicians.
He also denied Mr Somyurek had any say in his position as leader.
“This guy, his activities are really confined to Victoria,” Mr Albanese said this morning.
“He was a member of the National Executive for a short period of time but he never made a contribution to that body.”
Mr Albanese confirmed members of Federal Party leadership would assist in cleaning up the Victorian branch.
“There will be a need for some national involvement and Daniel Andrews is asking for that,” Mr Albanese said.
“Daniel Andrews is determined to clean out any areas that are required and he will have the support of the national party to do that.”
The leader said his party was focused on the pandemic and other problems facing Australians.
“This is a distraction,” Mr Albanese said. “It’s being dealt with.
“The Labor Party today is a stronger party than it was on Monday morning,” he added.
Mr Albanese has not had a conversation with federal MP Anthony Byrne about the tapes recorded in his office.
“Anthony Byrne, I know him. I think he plays a very important role as the Deputy Chair of the National Security Committee,” Mr Albanese said.
“I regard him as someone of integrity and as someone who plays a really positive and constructive role in the Parliament, in keeping all Australians safe.”
ROBIN SCOTT STANDS DOWN, VOWS TO CLEAR NAME
Mr Scott yesterday said he believed he would clear his name once the investigation was underway but would nonetheless stand down.
“The Australian Labor Party has played an enormous part in my life, and champions values that I hold particularly dear,” he said.
“Because of this, I found the recent reporting of matters relating to the administration of the party especially confronting.
“However, I am conscious of the burden that this process will take on myself and my young family.
“I am also concerned at the distraction my involvement in the process may cause for the Government.
“I will continue to serve my electorate of Preston to the best of my ability, and I remain grateful to have the privilege of doing so.”
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said the Premier was “running a protection racket” for his ministers.
“They should be absolutely gone … They should be stood down pending the conclusion of these investigations.
“Minister Kairouz in particular was caught on tape in these reports.”
Mr O’Brien said new rules introduced in the wake of the red shirts scandal required MPs to act ethically.
“It shows you he (Daniel Andrews) has learnt nothing,” he said.
“They should not be drawing a ministerial salary, they should not be making decisions about the lives of 6.5 million Victorians.
“They should be sitting on the backbench and hoping that the police don’t find they’ve broken the law.
“This sort of thing shows exactly why people are sick to death of politics.”
VANDAL ATTACK AT TREASURY PLACE
Police this morning arrested a man for daubing graffiti at Treasury Place.
A statement from Victoria Police said: “A 40-year-old man has been arrested in regards to criminal damage in Melbourne this morning.
“A Melbourne man is currently in custody assisting police with their inquiries.”
The message: “One belt one road to hell” was spray painted outside the Premier’s Spring St office overnight.
Victoria Police have been notified of the incident.
The graffiti refers to China’s Belt and Road infrastructure deal signed by the premier.
— With Tamsin Rose and Tom Minear
MORE ON THE LABOR CRISIS
ANATOMY OF A HIT: INSIDE THE POWER MOVE ON SOMYUREK
ROTTEN TO THE CORE: ALP’S TOXIC INTERNAL WAR EXPOSED