Adem Somyurek: Tainted past of sacked Labor minister in Victoria
Daniel Andrews must have experienced deja vu when announcing Adem Somyurek had been sacked – five years after delivering the same news.
Adem Somyurek has been kicked out of cabinet by Premier Daniel Andrews and resigned from the Labor Party following damning allegations of branch stacking – but it is not the first alleged wrongdoing in the MP’s career.
2002
Mr Somyurek first entered parliament after winning the Legislative Council province of Eumemmerring (now abolished).
2006
After electoral reforms to the Legislative Council, Mr Somyurek wins a spot on the Labor ticket for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region seat and is made the first chair of the newly constituted Electoral Matters Committee.
2009
Mr Somyurek is removed as chair of the committee after being convicted for driving while disqualified.
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2010
Labor loses the state election but Mr Somyurek keeps his seat and is promoted into the shadow ministry of the Daniel Andrews-led opposition.
2014
Labor wins the election and Mr Somyurek is made Minister for Small Business, Innovation, and Trade.
May 2015
Mr Somyurek is stood down from his ministerial role following allegations of bullying made by his then-chief of staff Dimity Paul.
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July 28, 2015
Mr Somyurek resigns after completion of an investigation by the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Mr Andrews said he “could not have confidence in the minister” and his position was untenable.
February 21, 2018
Mr Somyurek and Sports Minister John Eren get into a heated exchange in a parliamentary dining room and it’s alleged Mr Somyurek pulled a butter knife on his colleague.
March 1, 2018
The parliamentary probe into the butter knife debacle finds no evidence Mr Somyurek brandished the cutlery and no further action is taken.
November 2018
Labor is re-elected and Mr Somyurek is reinstated to cabinet, given the Local Government and Small Business portfolios.
June 14, 2020
Explosive branch-stacking allegations are levelled against Mr Somyurek following an investigation by 60 Minutes and The Age which shows damning footage of the MP handing over cash and involving parliamentary employees, as well as using derogatory language to describe his colleagues, including his boss, the premier.
June 15, 2020
Premier Daniel Andrews sacks Mr Somyurek from cabinet and refers the branch stacking claims to police and IBAC. The former MP resigns his membership of the ALP before he can be expelled.