Dan sends row to IBAC
Third minister gone over branch-stacking scandal
VICTORIA has lost three ministers in little more than 24 hours amid allegations of branch-stacking, but Premier Daniel Andrews insists no one else in his Cabinet will face similar claims.
The Labor leader also maintains he knew nothing of the allegations before they were aired on television on Sunday.
Marlene Kairouz yesterday became the third minister to leave Cabinet over the scandal, after factional allies Adem Somyurek and Robin Scott left the ministry on Monday.
An expose aired on 60 Minutes alleges former Labor heavyweight and powerbroker Mr Somyurek handed over cash and used parliamentary employees to create fake branch members and amass political influence.
Recordings also captured him using vile language against colleagues and staff.
It is alleged staff members of Ms Kairouz and Mr Scott were involved in the branchstacking efforts.
Mr Somyurek was booted as Victoria’s Local Government and Small Business Minister and lost his Labor Party membership on Monday.
Mr Andrews said Ms Kairouz was not pushed to resign but had taken the “appropriate course of action”, given he had asked the Independent Broadbased Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) and police to investigate the accusations.
Ms Kairouz said she was standing down so as not to be a distraction and to avoid causing her family distress.
“I look forward to the opportunity to clear my name and am confident any investigative process will do so,” she said.
Former Veterans Minister Robin Scott cited similar reasons for his resignation and maintained his innocence.
Ms Kairouz and Mr Scott told the Premier they had acted appropriately at all times. Mr Andrews said it was not up to him to determine if that was true.
“Victoria Police and IBAC, they will be the ultimate arbiters of whether their contention that they’ve done the right thing is an accurate one or not,” he said.
Asked if he was confident nobody else in his team had used taxpayer-funded staff to further political interests, he said, “I am”.
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said Mr Andrews should take responsibility for the issues that had unfolded under his decade-long Labor leadership.
“He’s set the standard. He’s responsible for this corruption,” Mr O’Brien said.
Under questioning in parliament, Mr Andrews reiterated he did not learn about the claims until Sunday night.
Mr Somyurek, who denies the allegations, was not seen in parliament yesterday.
He will now sit on the crossbench next to Reason Party MP Fiona Patten.
“He certainly has never treated the crossbench with any interest or any respect, so it will be interesting seeing him join our ranks,” Ms Patten said.
Mr Somyurek’s home was visited yesterday by a man and woman carrying folders and powder-free gloves.
IBAC would not confirm if the pair were its investigators.
Labor’s national executive is preparing to take action against the Victorian branch.
“There’s a discussion about getting senior elders in to make sure we clean up the show,” federal leader Anthony Albanese told 2GB radio.
Mr Andrews expects the national executive to deliver a plan to restructure the branch.
“No one should underestimate my resolve to deal with these issues properly to make sure that we make really significant reform,” Mr Andrews said.