By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
EMBATTLED MP Adem Somyurek has faced his first questions in Parliament a month after the launch of an investigation into allegations that he had bullied his senior staffer.
Mr Somyurek took most questions about the inquiry on notice, and gave written responses within 24 hours.
He told Parliament on Wednesday that he hadn’t been instructed by anyone to miss the sitting week of 26-28 May just after he was stood down as a Minister pending the investigation.
“I cannot remember much from the conversation I had with the Premier but what I do know is this – I did not come to Parliament on those days due to the reasons I outlined in my member’s statement (on 11 June).
“And that was to be with my family at a very traumatic time and in order to deal with the review process.”
Mr Somyurek was asked to elaborate on his comment that “I think people are pretty smart”, made outside the House and in response to questions about the motivation behind the investigation.
Speculation has swirled that the allegations and investigation were a Labor Party factional row.
He told Parliament that the question went to the “heart of the process” and he was required to “maintain confidentiality” regarding the inquiry.
He took the question on notice – just as he had dealt with six other direct questions from opposition MPs the day before.
Tuesday’s questions included whether he offered his resignation or if it was sought by Premier Daniel Andrews.
This month Mr Somyurek offered to have the ministerial portion of his pay – more than $2000 a week – withheld during the investigation.
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.
