Turkish-origin politician sacked from Australian local cabinet over branch-stacking allegations
Adem Somyürek, who was serving as a minister in the Victoria government of Australia, has been sacked from his cabinet following allegations that he used thousands in cash and parliamentary employees to create fake branch members for his party.
Duvar English
A Turkish-origin politician who was serving as local administration and small business minister in the Victoria government of southeastern Australia has been sacked from his cabinet after a channel on June 14 aired allegations of branch stacking and a recording of him using foul language about a ministerial colleague.
The report alleges that Adem Somyürek used thousands in cash and parliamentary employees to create fake branch members to gain influence within the Victorian branch of his Labor Party.
In recordings published, Somyürek also uses abusive language about Prevention of Family Violence Minister Gabrielle Williams and describes the young staffers helping him as "little passive-aggressive f***ing gay kids".
Somyürek later apologized for the language he used regarding LGBTI people and Minister Williams. He also said the conversations were private between him and a long-time friend and political ally and that he would seek a police investigation into the use of secretly filmed video footage.
He rejected the claim that he was involved in branch stacking.
Somyürek also resigned his Labor Party membership on June 15 morning, after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews moved to expel him from the party.
Andrew said the matter had been referred to Victoria Police and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).
Somyürek was born in Turkey's Aegean province of İzmir in 1967. His family moved to Australia when Somyürek was 18 months old.