Fresh probe into Victorian Labor red shirts flagged

Victoria’s ombudsman will now focus on a brief exchange in 2014 between Daniel Andrews and Adem Somyurek about the ‘red shirts’.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, centre, and Adem Somyurek, far right, in 2018. Picture: AAP

A brief but significant conversation eight years ago between Daniel Andrews and Adem Somyurek over the “red shirts” rort will be a focus of a fresh integrity report into the scandal.

The Operation Watts special report by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission and the ­Ombudsman has revealed ­the exchange between the pair after a caucus meeting before the 2014 election would be considered as part of a new review into the red shirts rort. “The above conversation will be the subject of consideration in a separate report by the Ombudsman,” it states.

Mr Somyurek has claimed that during the exchange, he raised concerns with Mr Andrews about the misuse of taxpayer resources to bankroll the red shirts campaigners and the then opposition leader replied, “Do you want to win an election or not?”

The 236-page Operation Watts report has confirmed that ­dur­ing his private examination ­before IBAC Operation Watts, the Premier was grilled about his recollections of the red shirts rort.

While Mr Andrews stopped short of admitting that he knew about the dodgy funding, he confirmed he was aware of the scheme designed by former Labor MP John Lenders, which would later see the ALP repay $388,000.

In his evidence, which until Wednesday’s release of the Operation Watts report was secret, Mr Andrews disputed his former minister’s recollection of the conversation. “I had a very brief encounter with Mr Somyurek at the end of a caucus meeting,” he told IBAC.

“I have detailed this I think not long after or, sorry, at an earlier point when this was a matter of media inquiry.

“It was a very brief encounter and I referred him to John ­Lenders.

“That is my – that’s my recount, my recall of that particular encounter, brief and really only an issue of referral, and I don’t believe that he raised anything other than he didn’t – he raised – I don’t even know that he raised concerns, other than that, you know, he might have gone on to raise concerns with me, but I directed him to Mr Lenders.”

Mr Andrews is then asked whether he was aware it involved electorate officers doing party-political work. “I’m not sure whether it was – well, I was aware that it was about engaging staff to be involved in campaigning,” he said.

“My recollection is that at no point did I have a sense that what was being proposed was not in ­accordance with the rules or ­advice from Parliamentary Ser­vices. My memory of it is that it was – pooling arrangements have been part of parliamentary parties for quite some time, our party and others. I expect I viewed it in those terms.”

At a press conference after the release of the Operation Watts report, Mr Andrews stood by his recollection of his 2014 conversation with Mr Somyurek.

“Various claims about discussions between me and him way back when, they’re not credible.

“I completely reject them,” he said.

On Wednesday, Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass said her 2018 investigation into the red shirts scandal had highlighted the need for reform.

“And this report highlights how little has changed,” she said.

“The current legislative framework provides few, if any, consequences for abusing public resources and allowed the conduct we revealed in this investigation to continue unchecked.

“Trust in our politicians is declining and will decline further if real action is not taken. The case for meaningful reform is now both compelling and urgent.

“The majority of members of parliament genuinely seek to advance the public interest.

“We strongly encourage them to demonstrate this by supporting these reforms.

“I would have thought it’s time for parliament to get its house in order.”

Ms Glass described the Andrews government’s response to her 2018 report as “tepid”.