Adem Somyurek scandal, as it happened: Marlene Kairouz resigns and Parliament resumes

A statement from Marlene Kairouz:

“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 in a statement.

"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.

"I look forward to the opportunity to clear my name and am confident any investigative process will do so. I note that these matters do not relate to any allegations of criminality or corruption.

"I will continue to serve my electorate of Kororoit, which remains the greatest honour of my life."

Former Victorian minister Marlene Kairouz.Credit: Eddie Jim

Keep across theage.com.au for anymore developments on the Adem Somyurek branch-stacking scandal as they happen, and grab a copy of tomorrow's paper for more on this story.

Thanks very much for following along today.

Below is audio of Ms Kairouz leaked to The Age, that in part explains why she resigned. She is discussing "branch-stacking":

Former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd said Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin both had "unimpeachable integrity" and were the right people to root out the causes of Labor's problem.

They have been tipped to lead a review of the branch stacking, as reported by The Age today.

Labor MP Jenny Macklin delivers her valedictory speech to the House of Representatives in 2019. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

"Even premiers of the state have had had difficulties in times past in always wrestling these people to the ground," Mr Rudd told ABC Radio in Melbourne.

"It is part of a culture or a subculture which caused most good, fine upstanding members of the Labor party, women and men, branch members and trade union members to, frankly, tear their hair out.

"It is also been nurtured by subcultures within these factions over a couple of decades. I mean, my major crime against humanity in 2010, when the history is finally revealed, was to have the audacity to disempower these people by removing their ability to appoint people to the cabinet of the Commonwealth of Australia. That's why they got so angry.

"If you take them on, ... on Daniel Andrews' part, it is not for the faint-hearted. It will turn into a bloody internal fight. But my encouragement of Andrews is that it is a fight worth having in terms of the future of our progressive movement."

Jaclyn Symes, the upper house member who is based in Wallan and represents Northern Victoria, says branch stacking is "something I don't quite understand" and that she "went to bed early on Sunday night" before her phone started receiving messages.

"A lot of [members] are true believers who have been generational Labor supporters," she says, and "we have put strict rules in" to counter branch stacking.

Jaclyn Symes.Credit: AAP

And on that note, question time in the upper house is over for today.

The government copped four questions about the Somyurek accusations, mostly from Liberal member David Davis.

The most significant new piece of news is confirmation from Jaclyn Symes, Labor's leader of the upper house, that exclusions have been placed on people re-entering their offices without supervision to avoid any destruction of evidence or other inappropriate behaviour.

Question time in the upper house continues.

Jaclyn Symes, from Labor, says some people are being stopped from re-entering their offices today if they don'e have "appropriate supervision".

"I would reiterate that all Victorians should comply in any relevant investigations ... [and] I can confirm there have been exclusions placed on people re-entering their offices without appropriate supervision," Ms Symes says.

The Opposition's David Davis wants the government to promise every member of the upper house will participate in police investigations into the branch-stacking claims, pointing to claims that several MPs did not cooperate with police during the infamous Red Shirts investigation in recent years.

Jaclyn Symes says she "does not accept" Mr Davis' statement, before Jenny Mikakos weighs in.
"That's nonsense, that's nonsense," Ms Mikakos bellows across the house.

Mr Davis also wants the government to explain what steps they have taken to ensure no document shredding is taking place.

And that's all from Question Time, folks.

Fair to say the Labor government got through that one without getting itself into any more strife. Unless the Liberals have some dirt on Martin Foley's office.

Daniel Andrews arrives for question time with fellow Labor MPs in tow. Credit: Justin McManus

Liberal member David Davis has again asked the government to “assure me that none of the ALP members or ministers in the Legislative Council [upper house] have been involved in activities that break the law”.

Jaclyn Symes, speaking for the government, doesn’t assure him of that - but assures him that in her own office, “I am very confident in the work that my officers do”.

“Referring these matters … to the appropriate independent authorities is certainly the right thing to do,” she says.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to speculate or provide commentary on those investigations”.
The opposition and crossbench aren’t impressed, almost drowning her out with their complaints.

Mr O'Brien is back on his feet, alleging a long pattern of electoral rorts by the Labor government. He asks: Why has Mr Andrews allowed it?

Opposition leader Michael O'Brien. Credit: Justin McManus

Premier refers Mr Andrews back to his statement on Monday morning, that matters reported by 60 Minutes and The Age have been referred to Victoria Police and the IBAC.

Mr O'Brien wants an independent audit of all ministerial electorate offices to 'make sure this constant corruption isn't being repeated in office after office after office.'

The speaker rules the Premier has answered, Mr O'Brien takes his seat as taunts of 'weak' come from the Opposition benches toward the Premier.

Liberal member David Davis has led the opposition's first crack at the government, requesting that Labor member Dr Tien Kieu step aside from his role as deputy chair of legal and social issues.

Dr Kieu was mentioned by Adem Somyurek in Sunday's 60 Minutes episode. On one tape, Mr Somyurek is recorded claiming he will direct state MP Tien Kieu to try to enlist staffer Jake Cripps for political activity aimed at bolstering branch memberships.

Mr Tieu has rejected the claims and Jaclyn Symes, the chair of the house, rejected the request.

"Mr Tieu is a very hard working local member ... I follow Mr Tieu on social media and he is everywhere," said Ms Symes.

Mr Tieu, sipping a bottle of water, sits emotionless.

Opposition leader Michael O'Brien is up again, he asks if apart from the three ministers who have been sacked or stood down, will the premier guarantee that no other ministers or members have been engaged in branch stacking?

Minister for Mental Health, Martin Foley .Credit: Joe Armao

Mr O'Brien wants a commitment to sack any Labor staffers engaged in ALP business while on the taxpayer's dime.

'There are clear expectations of appropriate conduct at all times, Daniel Andrews says, “and anybody who doesn't meet these standards will be appropriately dealt with.”

Mr O'Brien then asks Labor MP Martin Foley for a guarantee that his staffers have not been engaged in party business. Foley refers back to Premier's answers.

“I give the undertaking that all ministers give,” says Foley. “If there is any accusation that the Leader of the Opposition has to make, he should make it.”

Mr O'Brien is going after Mr Foley’s staffer Matt Hilakari, a senior Socialist Left Faction figure. Nothing to see here, insists Minister for Mental Health Mr Foley.