Somyurek says Nine and its reporter defamed him

Adem Somyurek claims 60 Minutes and The Age falsely accused him of running a ‘criminal’ enterprise within the ALP.

Adem Somyurek. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Dumped Labor MP Adem Somyurek has launched defamation proceedings against the Nine Network, The Age and investigative reporter Nick McKenzie.

Mr Somyurek is suing over a 60 Minutes program and subsequent articles in The Age newspaper that accused him of branch stacking and illegal activity.

Mr Somyurek was sacked by the Premier from state cabinet and given a life ban from Labor after the allegations were made public in June last year.

In documents filed with the ­Supreme Court on Friday, Mr Somyurek accused the media organisations of malicious and reckless conduct.

McKenzie, an award-winning journalist who reported the allegations for both 60 Minutes and The Age, is personally accused of “publishing defamatory imputations he knew to be false”.

Mr Somyurek said he repeatedly made himself available to McKenzie to discuss the claims.

But he has claimed McKenzie was intent on destroying his ­career and reputation, and has ­accused him of working with ­federal deputy Labor leader Richard Marles and federal MP Anthony Byrne to drive him out of the ALP.

Mr Somyurek is suing for damages, interest and costs.

HERALD SUN