Explosive text messages of a Labor political ‘assassin’
Anthony Byrne discussed the ‘decapitation’ of a colleague, savaged Bill Shorten, and wished for Daniel Andrews’s ‘political death’.
The federal Labor MP embroiled in the branch-stacking scandal discussed the possible “decapitation” of an ALP colleague, savaged Bill Shorten as a disloyal and ungrateful private schoolboy, and wished for Daniel Andrews’s “political death”.
Federal Labor MP Anthony Byrne also attacked one former NSW powerbroker as a “crooked, corrupt f..k’’ and dismissed his federal colleagues as lacking the “judgment, understanding and intelligence’’ of ousted Victorian minister Adem Somyurek.
Among dozens of text messages sent by Mr Byrne to his longtime friend Mr Somyurek over a two-year period, the federal MP describes a female Labor figure as a “ratf..ker’’.
In other texts, Mr Byrne threatens to “dynamite’’ Left-faction attempts to recruit Afghans and asks Mr Somyurek to meet an “Indian kid’’ who “clearly can recruit’’.
The Victorian backbencher uses graphic language to express his hatred of political enemies, including former Left powerbroker Alan Griffin. “I want Griffin destroyed. I want his head cut off and then I am going to piss on his corpse,’’ he wrote.
Mr Byrne has found himself at the centre of a political storm after his electorate office was used to covertly record Mr Somyurek, leading to his dramatic dismissal from the Victoria cabinet and prompting federal intervention in the Victorian branch of the party and a corruption probe.
The explosive text messages threaten to engulf the federal party and drag Anthony Albanese into the political brawling that has paralysed the Victorian branch.
Mr Albanese did not respond to questions on Wednesday night.
Mr Byrne’s backroom dealings are laid bare in the messages, seen by The Australian. In one instance, he outlines how he was actively looking to engage a party recruiter because of his ethnicity.
Mr Byrne, concerned about left-wing recruitment of migrant voters from Afghanistan, plotted to confront that country’s ambassador to help shore up his vote in the Melbourne seat of Holt. “Left are playing around Afghans. I am about to dynamite that tonight with Afghan ambassador,’’ he wrote.
The messages also uncover how Mr Byrne disparaged or attacked colleagues, including his former leader Mr Shorten, former NSW senator Sam Dastyari, Mr Griffin, Victorian minister Martin Pakula and Right-faction powerbroker Stephen Conroy.
A female Labor operative is attacked as a “ratf..ker’’ while a female federal MP is a “drunk’’, who was “dribbling shit” while flying with him and Mr Shorten.
On the Victorian Premier, Mr Andrews: “I hope this (the treatment of a Victorian minister) signs his death warrant politically.’’
The texts also show in fine detail how he was working closely with Mr Somyurek for years, relying heavily on his advice and organisational skills and for political protection.
Mr Somyurek, who was sacked as a minister and ejected from the ALP this week over alleged branch stacking and sexist and homophobic language, is stunned that the campaign to oust him came from Mr Byrne’s office.
He told The Australian: “When I was reading the texts, I burst out crying. Not in anger but over the friendship and the battles we fought. We were like brothers.
“I don’t have any anger towards Anthony, I am angry at those who have exploited him.’’
Mr Byrne, meanwhile, accused Mr Somyurek of cherry-picking the texts.
“Somyurek has selectively released a hand-picked selection of my text messages to him sent over two years just hours after I made a public statement that I had contacted authorities and would assist with their corruption investigations into him,’’ he said.
“That speaks for itself”.
In the texts, Mr Byrne is gushing in his support for Mr Somyurek, even confiding on November 1, 2018, in Mr Somyurek that if he were re-elected, he would then exit parliament.
In another text, he threatens a female Labor operative. “If she (Labor operative) mucks you up I will make sure she guest stars in the next four corners (sic) hatchet job on China. Which I will be on. Watch her, she’s a ratf..ker.’’
When Mr Somyurek last revived his political career, Mr Byrne sent an effusive text in support of him. He declared in another text that Mr Somyurek was more talented than anyone else in the federal Labor caucus.
The congratulatory text reads: “To have picked yourself up from the canvas the way you have done to become a minister, a very powerful powerbroker and to now be on national executive is an ¬astonishing achievement.”
Mr Byrne actually threatens to behead two people — Mr Griffin and an adviser to Mr Shorten.
Mr Somyurek’s supporters are mystified why Mr Byrne turned against him, the contact diminishing between the two about a year ago. A 60 Minutes report on Sunday about Mr Somyurek has led to an implosion of the Victorian Right faction, including three ministerial resignations or sackings and national intervention in the Victorian branch.
Mr Somyurek’s supporters are not defending the language aired on 60 Minutes but believe the branch-stacking allegations are distorted because of the problems collecting membership money during the pandemic lockdown.
“Adem has no idea why Anthony turned against him,” a friend said. “They worked incredibly closely together over the years. Many years.”
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