By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
UPDATE 4.24pm, 11 JUNE 2015
EMBATTLED MP Adem Somyurek has reportedly applied for a freeze on his ministerial salary while under investigation for alleged bullying.
In a statement in Parliament today, 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 told Parliament he had been absent in the previous sitting week to be with his family who had been under stress.
Under this move, Mr Somyurek would lose the $2362 weekly ministerial portion that is added to his base pay.
Opposition Legislative Council leader Mary Wooldridge had yesterday called on Mr Somyurek to refund his ministerial pay from when he was stood down on 16 May.
EARLIER
SUSPENDED state minister Adem Somyurek has been called to hand back part of his salary pending an investigation into bullying allegations.
Legislative Council opposition leader Mary Wooldridge said the state coalition would move a motion in Parliament on Wednesday for Mr Somyurek to refund his ministerial top-up salary for the suspension period.
“The minister for nothing is receiving a top-up each and every week of $2362 for not doing the job as a minister.
“That’s much more than the average Victorian earns in any one week.”
Ms Wooldridge said Federal Senator Arthur Sinodinos provided a precedent by handing back his Assistant Treasurer ministerial salary for the period he was stood down last year.
Mr Somyurek, a South Eastern Metropolitan MP, returned to Parliament yesterday (Tuesday) for the first time since being stood down as Small Business, Innovation and Trade Minister on 16 May.
He had blamed illness for missing a week of sittings shortly after being suspended last month.
Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings told Parliament on 19 May that Mr Somyurek retained his ministerial salary but there was an “expectation” he wouldn’t use his Melbourne CBD ministerial office or ministerial car.
Premier Daniel 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 will be conducted by Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet Chris Eccles.
Mr Somyurek did not respond to calls on Wednesday.
