Adem Somyurek
Adem Somyurek MLC | |
---|---|
Member of the Victorian Legislative Council | |
Assumed office 30 November 2002 | |
Constituency | Northern Metropolitan (2022–present) South-Eastern Metropolitan (2006–2022) Eumemmerring Province (2002–2006) |
Minister for Local Government | |
In office 29 November 2018 – 15 June 2020 | |
Premier | Daniel Andrews |
Preceded by | Marlene Kairouz |
Succeeded by | Danny Pearson |
Minister for Small Business | |
In office 29 November 2018 – 15 June 2020 | |
Premier | Daniel Andrews |
Preceded by | Philip Dalidakis |
Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade | |
In office 3 December 2014 – 27 July 2015 | |
Premier | Daniel Andrews |
Preceded by | Louise Asher |
Succeeded by | Philip Dalidakis |
Personal details | |
Born | Adem Kubilay Somyurek 25 September 1967 Democratic Labour (2022–2024) |
Alma mater | Deakin University (MPol&Policy) Monash University (BA) Chisholm (CertBus(Acc) |
Profession | Politician |
Website | Personal Twitter Facebook |
Adem Kubilay Somyurek (born 25 September 1967) is an Australian politician. He has served as a member of the Victorian Legislative Council currently representing the Northern Metropolitan Region.[1]
Somyurek was a member of the
In June 2020, Somyurek became the subject of major corruption allegations including branch stacking during the 48th Victorian Parliament.[3]
Somyurek was re-elected to the Legislative Council in November, 2022, with endorsement from the
Personal life
Born in 1967 in İzmir, Turkey, Somyurek moved to Australia with his parents when he was 18 months old. Prior to entering the Victorian Parliament, Somyurek worked as a taxi driver, as a staffer for Labor Senator Jacinta Collins in 1996 and later in the office of federal MP Anthony Byrne.[6]
Somyurek holds a Master of Arts in Policy and Politics, a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Sociology and an Associate Diploma in Business Studies (Accounting).
Political career
Somyurek first entered parliament after winning the Legislative Council province of
In his first term (2002–2006) Somyurek served on the Outer Suburban and Interface Committee, and the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee. In his second term (2006–2010) Somyurek was elected the first chair of the newly constituted Electoral Matters Committee but lost the position in December 2009 as a result of being convicted for driving while disqualified.[9][10]
In his third term (2010–2014) Somyurek was promoted into the Shadow Ministry of the
Somyurek stood down from his ministerial role in May 2015 following allegations from his chief of staff, Dimity Paul, of bullying, and later resigned on 28 July 2015 after an investigation by the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet made adverse findings against him. Somyurek disputed these claims.[13][14][15]
At the
The Age/Nine recordings
On 14 June 2020, The Age and Nine Network published covert recordings purporting to show Somyurek organising branch stacking. In its investigation, Somyurek is alleged to have registered local party members with false details, taking funds from an ATM to pay for party membership fees, and directing his staff relating to party activities.[20]
Included in the numerous covert recordings, are several sections where Somyurek is heard making derogatory comments towards MPs Gabrielle Williams and ministerial staffers.[20]
"This is going to be relentless; we're just going to go fuck them. We're just going to go to town. This is fucking war. We've got fucking massive numbers, we've got about thirty going in every week..."
— [20], Covert audio recording of Somyurek
Following the release of the recordings, on 15 June 2020, Premier Andrews sacked Somyurek from
IBAC investigation
Somyurek was a target of Operation Watts, an investigation by Victoria's Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) and the Victorian Ombudsman. Operation Watts examined allegations of "serious corrupt conduct" made against Victorian public officers and Members of Parliament, and examined the 'branch stacking' aired in media reports in 2020. Public hearings were held in October and November 2021.[23]
On the first day of hearing on 11 October 2021, federal Labor MP and former ally of Somyurek Anthony Byrne claimed that Somyurek "had been coercing staff for at least two years and had threatened to 'take people out' of pre-selections."[24]
The findings of the investigation were released in July 2022. The report found that Somyurek had misused publicly funded staff, including by engaging them in branch stacking.[25] The report recommended making it "unlawful for ministers to allow a person to perform party political work while employed in a publicly funded role," which was not the case at the time of the allegations made against Somyurek.[26]
Re-election
In November 2022, Somyurek announced he had joined the
References
- ^ "Parliament of Victoria Electoral Matters Committee" (PDF). 2 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- ^ Willingham, Richard (15 June 2020). "Adem Somyurek quits Victorian Labor Party after 60 Minutes airs allegations of branch stacking, offensive language". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ "Adem Somyurek quits Victorian Labor Party after 60 Minutes airs allegations of branch stacking, offensive language". ABC News. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ Deery, Shannon (7 November 2022). "Adem Somyurek makes bombshell return to politics with Democratic Labour Party". Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ a b Kolovos, Benito (12 December 2022). "Crossbencher Fiona Patten concedes Victorian upper house seat to former Labor MP Adem Somyurek". Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "'F**k the premier': Labor's secret tapes reveal industrial scale stackathon". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Adem Somyürek". Labor ALP People. Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
- ^ A Somyurek, 'Inaugural Speech to Parliament', 2003, Parliament of Victoria, retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ McMahon, Stephen (10 December 2009). "Premier John Brumby says no excuses for MP caught driving while disqualified". Herald Sun.
- ^ Best, Catherine (10 December 2009) "Vic MP cops suspended jail sentence", Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ Rood, David (6 December 2010). "New look for Labor's shadow team". The Age.
- ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation,Daniel Andrews sworn in as Victorian Premier, unveils ministerial portfolios, 2014, retrieved 28 October 2017.
- ^ Tomazin, Farrah (23 May 2015). "Minister stood down over allegations of misconduct made by chief of staff". The Age. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ^ "Adem Somyurek resigns as Small Business Minister after bullying investigation". The Age. 28 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018.
- ^ "Small Business Minister Adem Somyurek resigns from Victorian Cabinet following bullying probe". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "State Election 2018: South-Eastern Metropolitan Region". VEC. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ R Baxendale, 'Women spearhead Daniel Andrews' new-look cabinet', The Australian, 27 November 2018, retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ M Hore & J Dowling, 'Premier Daniel Andrews unveils fresh Cabinet and government department shake-up', Herald Sun, 29 November 2018, retrieved 30 November 2018.
- ^ "Changes To Council Electoral Structures". Premier of Victoria. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Llanbey, Sumeyya; McKenzie, Nick; Tozer, Joel (14 June 2020). "Calls for investigation into factional powerbroker Adem Somyurek". The Age. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "'Terminated': Andrews sacks Somyurek, Albanese moves to kick him out of party". The Age. Fairfax Media. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Adem Somyurek quits Labor Party after 60 Minutes airs allegations of branch stacking, offensive language". ABC News. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ Operation Watts Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "Victorian Labor minister Luke Donnellan quits over IBAC allegations of branch stacking". ABC News. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "Operation Watts Recommendations" (PDF). Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ Bucci, Nino (20 July 2022) "Victorian ministers breached codes in 'shocking' misuse of public funds to fuel branch stacking, Ibac finds", The Guardian.
- ^ "Former Labor MP Adem Somyurek to run alongside Bernie Finn in Victorian election". ABC News. 6 November 2022.
- ^ "Results by region".