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Albanese firm on branch-stacking claims

Anthony Albanese says he has zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviour within the Labor Party as a Victorian state minister resigns over a branch-stacking scandal.

Jun 15, 2020, updated Jun 15, 2020
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says Australia should be aiming for full employment. Source: Facebook

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says Australia should be aiming for full employment. Source: Facebook

The minister, Adem Somyurek, today resigned from state cabinet but has denied the allegations.

He has been accused of handing over thousands of dollars in cash and using parliamentary employees to create fake branch members to gain influence within the Victorian branch of the Labor party.

Albanese said Somyurek, who is also a member of the ALP national executive, had no influence on any members of the federal Labor caucus.

“I have zero tolerance for any corrupt or inappropriate behaviour, any behaviour that brings the party into disrepute,” Albanese told the ABC on Monday.

Nine’s 60 Minutes and The Age reported Somyurek boasted of having influence over federal Labor MPs from Victoria.

“No one watching that program outside of Victoria, including my federal colleagues, would have heard of this bloke, it is as simple as that,” Albanese said.

The four federal MPs named in the reports have his backing.

“They are doing a good job representing their local electorates and they deserve better than to be distracted by this bloke.”

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has called for an investigation into the allegations.

“There’s obviously questions for Labor to address in this matter. And so they should. And you know, it’s just not on,” he told the ABC.

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“Of course there should be an inquiry into it.”

Branch stacking involves recruiting or signing up members for a local branch of a political party to influence the outcome of candidate preselections for parliament.

It is against Labor rules to pay for other people’s memberships.

Party members are required to sign a form declaring they have paid for their own memberships.

Footage showed Somyurek withdrawing $2000 in cash from an ATM on April 13, before handing it and dozens of party membership forms to an adviser working for fellow Labor minister Marlene Kairouz.

The adviser then delivered the forms and cash to ALP head office.

A similar cash drop-off reportedly occurred earlier in the year.

-AAP

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