Vic Lib MPs request investigation into branch stacking claims

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 03:33:40 MSK

A report broadcast on the 60 Minutes program has accused Federal MP Michael Sukkar and Victorian MP Marcus Bastiaan of plotting to remove sitting MPs and being involved in a branch stacking operation.

The report also claimed a leaked memo from Mr Bastiaan revealed a plan to build a Bastiaan-Sukkar faction inside of Federal MP Kevin Andrews’ office.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said on Monday Mr Sukkar’s position was now “untenable”, and that the saga was a test of Scott Morrison’s leadership.

But Assistant Treasurer Mr Sukkar and backbencher Mr Andrews on Sunday night rejected the allegations.

Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar wants an independent investigation into branch stacking claims. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

“In the interests of transparency and to remove any doubt, I have asked the Secretary of the Department of Finance to undertake an independent review of the staffing arrangements in the Deakin Electorate Office since my election in 2013,” Mr Sukkar said in a statement.

“I have never authorised taxpayer funded staff to undertake party political activity outside of these policies and guidelines when they are being paid to serve the constituents of the Deakin electorate.

“I cannot speak to the operations of other Electorate Offices.”

Mr Andrews said a number of allegations made in the report were false.

“The suggestion that I would be coerced into making decisions on staffing arrangements in my Electorate Office by others is untrue,” he wrote on Twitter.

I have referred staffing matters raised in the 60 minutes program to the Secretary of the Department of Finance to be independently reviewed.— Kevin Andrews (@kevinandrewsmp) August 23, 2020

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese told ABC RN this was “a test for Scott Morrison”.

“This is the test that he himself set when there were allegations into Victoria,” Mr Albanese said.

“If Michael Sukkar is still sitting there at two o’clock as a minister, then that is a failure of Scott Morrison’s leadership.

“His assistant treasurer is in it up to his neck in his own words here, and that his position is untenable.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Monday said referring the matters to the Department of Finance for review was “the appropriate thing to do”.

“When I saw that program, I knew that Liberal Party members would be concerned about the conduct and about the language that was used. I share those concerns,” he told Today.

“I’ve subsequently spoken to the president of the Victorian division as well as the state director, as well as the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Party will deal with those matters now internally.”

Mr Frydenberg said Mr Sukkar continued to have his support.

Crossbench Senator Rex Patrick took to Twitter to accuse both parties of focusing on “internal power struggles than the public interest”.

Originally published asProbe into Lib branch stacking claims