Somyurek asks for pay freeze

EMBATTLED MP Adem Somyurek has applied for a freeze on his ministerial salary while under investigation for alleged bullying.
In a statement in Parliament on Thursday, Mr Somyurek said he’d written to the Department of Premier and Cabinet to withhold part of his pay while he’s under suspension as the Small Business, Innovation and Trade Minister.
He also told Parliament he had been absent in the previous sitting week to “address matters associated with this independent inquiry” and to be with his family who had been “placed under a great deal of stress”.
Under this move, Mr Somyurek would lose the $2362 weekly ministerial portion that was added to his base pay.
Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings said Mr Somyurek volunteered to repay the ministerial salary component back to 23 May if there was an “adverse finding”.
Opposition Legislative Council leader Mary Wooldridge had on Wednesday called on “the minister of nothing” to refund his ministerial pay for the period from when he was stood down on 23 May.
Premier Daniel Andrews told Parliament on Thursday that Mr Somyurek’s attendance was “entirely a matter for him”.
“It is consistent with the obvious fact that he has been stood down from his ministerial responsibilities pending the appropriate review and examination of complaints that have been made.”
Mr Andrews last month announced Mr Somyurek’s suspension pending what he said was an “independent” investigation into alleged “intimidating, aggressive and threatening” workplace conduct.
In a statement last month, Mr Somyurek labelled the formal complaint lodged by his chief-of-staff Dimity Paul as “completely baseless and untrue”.
The investigation is being conducted by former County Court judge Michael Strong.
– CAM LUCADOU-WELLS