Albo feels heat over stack saga

FEDERAL Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is under pressure to discipline a Labor backbencher ensnared in a branch-stacking scandal and assess his role on a powerful national security committee.

Anthony Byrne is in the spotlight after a major investigation into Victorian Labor claimed the scalps of party powerbroker Adem Somyurek and two factional allies.

Some of the covert recordings were captured in Mr Byrne’s office and his phone calls were also recorded.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Mr Albanese must decide whether Mr Byrne should stay on as deputy chair of federal parliament’s intelligence and security committee.

Mr Albanese said Mr Byrne would remain in the role.

Mr Somyurek said yesterday he had learned the art of “branch work” from Mr Byrne.

“Anthony Byrne is someone I respect … everything I know now about branch work Anthony taught me,” he said.

The Prime Minister accused Mr Albanese during Question Time of overseeing corruption, but was forced to withdraw the remark after a terse exchange with Speaker Tony Smith.

Mr Byrne is also feeling the heat over text messages his leader described as “completely unacceptable and inappropriate”.

The texts, which were made public after Mr Byrne agreed to help corruption investigators looking into the Victorian saga, included various profanities and disparaging remarks about Labor colleagues.

“I’ve counselled Mr Byrne about his language and the inappropriateness of those comments,” Mr Albanese said.

“I also discussed and sought an assurance from him that he had advice, which he has, that he has acted legally at all times.”

Mr Byrne said he has been in touch with authorities to offer his assistance with their investigation into estranged ally Mr Somyurek. “I welcome investigations into corruption, which has no place in the party I love,” he said.