Corruption scandal rocks Victorian government as powerbroker sacked
A fierce war is tipped to erupt in the Labor Party over the explosive corruption revelations that saw a Minister sacked, a second quit and has the Premier under siege.
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The Victorian Government is in crisis with a fierce war tipped to erupt in the Labor Party over explosive corruption revelations.
The scandal forced two ministers out of Cabinet, with pressure mounting on a third to stand down, pending investigations by the state’s anti-corruption body and Victoria Police. Federal Labor may also stage an extraordinary intervention to stem the fallout.
Adem Somyurek was sensationally sacked as Local Government and Small Business Minister yesterday after being caught boasting about branch-stacking and making shocking slurs about colleagues.
His dismissal was the second time Premier Daniel Andrews has kicked him out of Cabinet, after Mr Somyurek was found to have bullied a female staffer in 2015.
On his return to the frontbench in 2018, Mr Andrews said: “To my good friend, Adem Somyurek, I’m very pleased to welcome Adem back to the Cabinet and he’s going to do a fantastic job.”
Yesterday, he dubbed his conduct “deplorable and shameful”.
Mr Somyurek will earn $182,000 a year sitting on the back bench.
Labor’s national executive is considering taking control of state operations as it launches an investigation into allegations of branch-stacking tipped to be led by former premier Steve Bracks.
Branch-stacking involves recruiting members for a local branch to influence the outcome of internal preselections of candidates for federal and state parliament.
ALP rules forbid members paying for any membership except their own and that of immediate family.
The practice has long tarnished the party and Mr Andrews was yesterday forced to deny ever being involved in any such activity.
It is also believed a rule change to ensure no MPs go through preselection battles ahead of the next election is being discussed.
This would be done to prevent further infighting.
Mr Somyurek was sacked at 9am yesterday before resigning from the ALP ahead of moves to expel him from the party.
It followed damning allegations of mass corruption that were exposed alongside covert recordings in which the disgraced MP was heard making derogatory and homophobic remarks.
“His conduct is appalling, it is completely unacceptable to me and that is why he was sacked,” Mr Andrews said.
“Mr Somyurek’s comments are derogatory and offensive and are unacceptable. His threatening language towards Gabrielle Williams, the Minister for Women, is a disgrace and cannot be tolerated.”
In a secret recording, Mr Somyurek was heard calling Ms Williams a “f---ing stupid bitch” and threatened to “f---ing knock her f---ing head off. She’s a f---ing psycho bitch.”
At another point, Mr Somyurek was heard belittling Young Labor members as “real little f---ing slimy little f---ers, right … little passive aggressive f---ing gay kids.”
Responding to the recordings, Ms Williams said the language was unacceptable and had to be called out. “No matter who you are, no one deserves to be threatened and abused in this way,” she said.
Mr Somyurek is also accused of industrial-scale branch-stacking amid claims he paid thousands of dollars for fake ALP memberships in order to boost his influence.
It is alleged he recruited staff of factional allies Marlene Kairouz, the Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister, and Robin Scott to help stack branches.
He denies any wrongdoing.
The conduct of all three ministers has been referred to Victoria Police and IBAC.
Mr Scott resigned as assistant treasurer and veterans minister last night. Sources said Ms Kairouz had no intention of standing down.
But pressure is mounting for Mr Andrews to remove her from Cabinet pending the outcome of any investigation.
Federal Labor president Wayne Swan said the national executive had taken steps to prevent Mr Somyurek rejoining the ALP.
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said Mr Andrews must be held responsible for the “disgraceful abuse of power” which the allegations represent. “Daniel Andrews has been the leader of the Labor Party for the last 10 years. He’s set the standard, he has created the culture,” he said.
The Opposition will today move to refer Mr Somyurek to the Victorian Ombudsman.
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