Questions left unanswered by the Member for Holt

Senator for Victoria, David Van, has today called for an inquiry into the involvement of the Federal Member for Holt Anthony Byrne MP in the Somyurek affair.

Senator Van welcomed the sacking of Victorian Minister for Small Business and Local Government Adem Somyurek following revelations overnight by 60 Minutes/The Age that taxpayer resources were misused to coordinate an industrial scale branch stack.

“With pubs across Victoria re-opening, the actions of Minister Somyurek and Anthony Byrne MP do not pass the pub test,” Senator Van said.

“For too long we have seen the Labor Party being run by Labor’s faceless men and their back-door deals.

“Labor made a commitment to stop using taxpayer-funded staffers to undertake their political work after the Red Shirts Saga of 2018. It is crystal clear that the Andrews Government and the Victorian Division of the Labor Party do not care about learning their lesson.”

Senator Van this morning called for Mr Byrne to answer questions about why it appears his taxpayer-funded office were supporting this inappropriate behaviour.

“The voters of Holt deserve to know what involvement Mr Byrne has had in taxpayer-funded Labor Party branch stacking,” Senator Van said.

“The 60 Minutes/The Age exposure overnight uncovered conversations of branch stacking being held in the Federal Member for Holt’s taxpayer-funded electorate office.

“As the Deputy Chair of the House Committee on Privileges and Members' Interests, Mr Byrne has the responsibility of upholding the integrity of the Australian Parliament. The use of taxpayer funds and resources towards Labor Party branch stacking goes against the integrity of the Australian Parliament.

“The people of Holt and Victoria deserve better than the representation they are receiving from their Labor Party local members.”