Sky News has obtained explosive text messages showing the extent of control that disgraced ex-Labor powerbroker Adem Somyurek had over the Australian Labor Party.
Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell said the texts, sent by Somyurek to a senior Labor MP last year, show the “bullying nature of the man” and his obsession with controlling the internal machinations of the Labor party.
“Just to show you the hold this powerbroker had over federal and state MPs, this is a series of text messages I have obtained from a senior federal Labor MP that was sent from Somyurek last year,” Mr Clennell said.
“It says: 'I’m about to bag you publicly, return my calls. Unless this thing happens smoothly, I’m going to assume you’re causing a problem. You better be not f**king around with this.'
"This was in relation to an internal party matter and it shows the bullying nature of the man.”
Mr Somyurek’s power as a right-wing factional powerbroker was demonstrated when Bill Shorten, who is a key member of the Victorian Right, had to fly to Melbourne the day before the Bennelong by-election in 2017 in order to meet with Somyurek and other Victorian Right figures about preselections and to sort out power in the Right faction.
Mr Clennell said while the scandal is damaging to Labor, it may help Anthony Albanese’s deputy leader Richard Marles seize control of the national executive.
“Anthony Albanese spoke to Daniel Andrews last night and they both agreed Somyurek had to go from the party," Mr Clennell said.
“Albanese and Andrews are from the same faction – the Left – and a divestment in power in the Right could help Albanese’s deputy Richard Marles and lead the Left to take over national executive.
“Somyurek was at the heart of a loose alliance of the Victorian Right which was in control of two thirds of the branch.
“Victorian Right sources have told me that Adem Somyurek would be responsible for backing in all Victorian federal Right MPs into their preselections except Tim Watts, Richard Marles, Jo Ryan and Rob Mitchell.”
Mr Clennell also said the national executive will meet at 5:30pm on Monday to finalise the investigation into Mr Somyurek’s conduct.
Mr Somyurek has been sacked from the Victorian cabinet and will be expelled from the party after 60 Minutes published a series of explosive secret recordings allegedly showing the former Labor MP using branch stacking to gain political power within the party.
