60 Minutes: Victoria Labor MP Adem Somyurek accused of branch stacking

A senior Victorian government minister has been accused of branch-stacking amid accusations he called the Minister for Women a “b*tch”.

A senior Victorian government minister has been accused of branch-stacking using both taxpayer funds and his own cash while taking aim at his former colleagues in the process.

An investigation by The Age and 60 Minutes has revealed upper house MP Adem Somyurek handed over thousands of dollars in cash and used parliamentary employees to create fake branch members and amass political influence within the Australian Labor Party.

Mr Somyurek also takes aim at his colleagues, including fellow Labor minister Marlene Kairouz, who he describes as holding a “meaningless” portfolio “made up just to make it look like we’re interested in the suburbs”.

He labels the Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams a “stupid bitch” whom he will “f***ing force … out of the ministry”.

Somyurek also describes these young staffers helping him as “patronising and annoying”, and “real little f***ing slimy little f***ers, little passive- aggressive f***ing gay kids”.’

BRANCH STACKING ACCUSATIONS

Footage shows Mr Somyurek on April 13 withdrawing $2000 in cash from an ATM, before handing it and dozens of party membership forms, to an adviser working for Ms Kairouz, who then delivers the forms and cash to ALP head office.

You’re listening to actual audio of Adem Somyurek obtained by @60Mins and @theAge. Tonight, we expose the rotten and corrupt operation this Labor heavyweight runs. #60Mins pic.twitter.com/kAkREyFXmA

— 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) June 14, 2020

The advisor reportedly carried out a similar cash drop-off earlier in the year.

“Well, if he (the advisor) gets caught on the street, he’d better not say he’s doing f***ing this stuff,” Mr Somyurek is recorded saying after the April 13 drop.

Mr Somyurek is also recorded ordering people to forge signatures and create false statements, in which Labor branch members claim to have paid for their own memberships.

He also talks about directing taxpayer-funded parliamentary employees, meant to be working for other MPs, to conduct party political operations.

At its most corrupt, branchstacking involves putting masses of fake members into a political party. The more fake members you control, the more say you have over who the ALP puts into parliament. #60Mins pic.twitter.com/ZJC7GLN2O0

— 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) June 14, 2020

Branch stacking involves recruiting or signing up members for a local branch of a political party for the purpose of influencing the outcome of internal preselections of candidates for federal and state parliament.

In one recording, Mr Somyurek boasts of controlling two-thirds of the Labor Party in Victoria.

“I’ll be just running the joint,” Mr Somyurek says.

“It’s who I say is going to be the f***ing premier.”

Former Labor Senator, Sam Dastyari says the ALP has had a problem with branchstacking for decades. #60Mins pic.twitter.com/tzsp7Tv6fJ

— 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) June 14, 2020

It is against Labor rules to pay for other people’s memberships. Party members are required to sign a form declaring they have paid for their own memberships.

The Victorian state government has been contacted for comment.