'Terminated': Andrews sacks Somyurek, Albanese moves to kick him out of party - The Age

At a lengthy and uncomfortable press conference on Monday morning, Mr Andrews rubbished Mr Somyurek's claim to have resigned from his job as small business and local government minister, with the Premier saying the right faction boss had been "terminated".

"Mr Somyurek was not offered an opportunity to resign. He is not worthy of an opportunity to resign. He was sacked," Mr Andrews said.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday morning.Credit:Eddie Jim

Mr Somyurek's close allies Marlene Kairouz and Robin Scott have kept their jobs in the ministry, after pleading their innocence to the Premier but also face investigations by police and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission into their role in the use of taxpayer-funded political advisors to stack branches.

Mr Andrews, flanked by his government’s parliamentary leadership team, said it was his decision that Mr Somyurek leave the ministry.

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Mr Albanese was equally damning, saying that "the comments that we saw last night were that of someone who was prepared to denigrate not just people who he saw as his opponents, but also people who were working with him".

"There were sexist comments, homophobic, they were completely inappropriate. In particular, I have to say that the comments about the minister responsible for taking action against violence against women in Victoria, Gabrielle Williams, was just breathtaking in the ignorance and in their inappropriateness."

The Premier said that he and Mr Albanese had already discussed measures to clean up branch stacking in the party, but would not disclose any details of the plans, saying "today is not the day" to discuss it further.

"I have had numerous conversations with federal leader Anthony Albanese today, last night, and we will have more to say about those matters soon," he said.

Mr Andrews said he had never undertaken branch stacking himself.

"I follow the party's rules. I'm the leader of the party and I don't think I've got much more to add to that," Mr Andrews said.

He said he would seek to have Mr Somyurek expelled from the party and has referred the allegations to IBAC and the police.

"That letter has been sent and it is my expectation that the national executive will agree to terminate Mr Somyurek's membership of the Australian Labor Party," he said.

"I have also instructed – asked – the Attorney-General to refer all of these matters as canvassed last night on the television and in various newspaper reports today to both Victoria Police and to IBAC and the Attorney-General has written in those terms and those referrals have been made."

Mr Somyurek issued a statement on Monday morning saying he offered his resignation to Mr Andrews, and will be calling for a police investigation into the covert recordings.

Mr Somyurek also apologised for his disparaging and misogynistic remarks against Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams and the LGBTI community that were aired in The Age and 60 Minutes report.

"I will f---ing force her out of the ministry, that f---ing stupid bitch, when Andrews goes … She's a stupid, stupid moll," Mr Somyurek said of Ms Williams. "I’m going to f---ing knock her f---ing head off. She’s a f---ing psycho bitch."

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Mr Andrews blasted Mr Somyurek’s "wicked" comments about Ms Williams.

"I have spoken to Gab a number of times since last night's TV program and I have reassured her of the support that I've also provided to her, the regard I have always had for her and the fact that the things that were said about her are simply unacceptable, wicked comments and I simply will not tolerate those," Mr Andrews said.

The Premier said he met with Mr Somyurek on Monday at 9am with the intention "to essentially end his career as a minister and end his career as a member of the Australian Labor Party and therefore a member of my government".

"He offered no defence of his actions. It was not a meeting where I was having a debate or discussion with him. I was simply doing him the courtesy of informing him in person of the decisions that I had taken," he said.

In his statement, Mr Somyurek rejected accusations of branch stacking and said he would provide a "rigorous defence".

"It is clear that I was taped and surveilled in a federal electorate office without my knowledge and that this material was published without any knowledge of its existence or my consent," Mr Somyurek said.

"However, I accept and take full responsibility for the fact that my language on a number of occasions was simply not appropriate. While Ms Williams and I have been at odds factionally for many years, I should not have used the language I did about her and I apologise to her unequivocally.

"Further, I am deeply sorry for language I used regarding highly valued and exceptional young people who are members of the LGBTI community. These comments have rightly cost me my job."

Mr Andrews said Mr Scott and Ms Kairouz, close allies of Mr Somyurek within the party, had given him assurances that they had acted appropriately.

Mr Andrews said he would not ask them to step aside while police and and the anti-corruption watchdog investigate.

"Victorians can have confidence that Victoria Police and IBAC will look at all of these matters thoroughly," he said.

It will be Mr Somyurek’s decision whether he chooses to remain in the upper house as an independent member and Mr Andrews said he was not concerned by how Mr Somyurek might act in Parliament in future.

"I have just sacked the bloke. I don’t think [the Labor Party] will be sitting down and doing any deals with him, be really clear about that," Mr Andrews said.

Danny Pearson, the member for Essendon, will take over Mr Somyurek’s portfolios of local government and small business.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiY2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWFnZS5jb20uYXUvcG9saXRpY3MvdmljdG9yaWEvYWRlbS1zb215dXJlay1yZXNpZ25zLWZyb20tY2FiaW5ldC0yMDIwMDYxNS1wNTUybHAuaHRtbNIBY2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLnRoZWFnZS5jb20uYXUvcG9saXRpY3MvdmljdG9yaWEvYWRlbS1zb215dXJlay1yZXNpZ25zLWZyb20tY2FiaW5ldC0yMDIwMDYxNS1wNTUybHAuaHRtbA?oc=5

2020-06-15 02:32:49Z
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