Adem Somyurek leaks details of Daniel Andrews cabinet meetings

Adem Somyurek claims Daniel Andrews begins cabinet meetings with ‘ego-driven ritual that bores ministers and interferes with the business of government’.

Victoria cabinet meetings began with discussion of the size of Daniel Andrews’ online presence. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Former Labor powerbroker and Andrews government minister Adem Somyurek has leaked details of cabinet meetings in which he was involved, claiming the Premier begins every meeting by seeking praise for his social media strategy.

Mr Somyurek’s Twitter spray comes after an investigation into branch-stacking allegations against his former ALP faction was used by powerbrokers as a pretext for effectively ending the state political careers of five of his former allies, as well as two other factionally isolated MPs not implicated in the scandal.

“First item on the agenda every Cabinet meeting is the size of Dans (sic) online performance,” Mr Somyurek tweeted on Thursday.

“It is a ritual that bores all ministers and interferes with the business of government. But ministers shut up – lest they offend the mad king. Dans (sic) private office contains a social media unit.”

First item on the agenda every Cabinet meeting is the size of Dans online performance. It is a ritual that bores all ministers and interferes with the business of government. But ministers shut up - lest they offend the mad king. Dans private office contains a social media unit.

— Adem Somyurek MP (@AdemSomyurek) December 16, 2021

Mr Somyurek said the Premier would then call on a “senior female adviser” to report on his online performance.

“The adviser reports glowingly about Dans (sic) big reach, comparing the size of Dans (sic) reach with the size of the PMs and other premiers in what is a weekly reach measuring contest.

“As the adviser breaks down every tweet, every Facebook post and proclaims Dan popularity, Dan leans back in his chair with hands clasped behind his head scans the room with pride looking for acknowledgment and praise from ministers of his big reach.”

Dan calls a senior female advisor to report on Dans online performance. The advisor reports glowingly about Dans big reach, comparing the size of Dans reach with the size of the PMs and other premiers in what is a weekly reach measuring contest.

— Adem Somyurek MP (@AdemSomyurek) December 16, 2021

Dan then invites ministers’ feedback. SL ministers are quick off the block effusive in their praise of their ‘dear leaders’ ‘massive’ reach. Out of fear of being purged Right ministers reluctantly follow. As the adviser returns to her seat, she is often seen rolling her eyes.

— Adem Somyurek MP (@AdemSomyurek) December 16, 2021

Mr Somyurek said the Premier would then invite feedback from ministers, with those aligned with his own Socialist Left faction “quick off the block” and “effusive in their praise of their ‘dear leaders’ ‘massive’ reach.”

“Out of fear of being purged Right ministers reluctantly follow. As the adviser returns to her seat, she is often seen rolling her eyes.”

Mr Andrews has more than a million followers on Facebook — more than 200,000 more than Prime Minister Scott Morrison — having spent almost $800,000 of taxpayers’ money in his first five years in power to promote his page on the social media platform.

He has a combined 1.7 million followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

In September, his former social media strategist Eloise Young revealed community engagement on the Premier’s platforms soared up to 451 per cent as the pandemic hit Victoria during the state’s extended 2020 lockdown.

The Premier’s office declined to comment.