The Labor Party has issued Marlene Kairouz with a ‘show cause’ notice
The Labor Party has issued a “show cause” notice to a former minister for failing to “assist” in its branch stacking probe.
Victoria
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The Labor Party has hit former Andrews Government minister Marlene Kairouz with a “show cause” notice for failing to “assist” in its branch stacking probe.
In a sign of further internal factional tensions, Ms Kairouz on Wednesday issued a statement defending herself against any suggestion she did not co-operate with party representatives.
It comes as the ALP continues to probe last year’s branch staking scandal, also under investigation by Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission and the Ombudsman.
The administrators are currently reviewing a number of memberships, including high-profile figures, before they hand back control of the party at the end of the month.
Ms Kairouz is among a group of Labor figures who have been contacted as part of the investigation.
She said she responded in “good faith” and “despite legal advice” to a questionnaire sent to me by the ALP executive.
“I was advised by my representatives to be succinct to avoid inadvertently impeding the IBAC inquiry,” she said.
“The administrators were not satisfied with my responses and issued a show cause letter due to my responses being deemed to be: “ … non responsive answers that have done little to assist us”.
“My responses to the questionnaire were prepared in good faith and with the intention of assisting this investigation without compromising my obligations to the IBAC investigation.
“I am disappointed that my attempts to co-operate with this investigation have not been interpreted as such.”
Ms Kairouz said she then provided further answers to Victorian Labor and stressed that she had not been accused by the administrators of branch stacking.
An overhaul of the party has seen thousands of memberships revoked and new rules outlined to prevent the prevalence of branch stacking warlords within Labor.
A final report delivered by the administrators issued a scathing review of the party and found practice had become more brazen over time despite efforts to eradicate it.
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