Referral of a matter from Victoria's Legislative Council

On 17 June 2020, the Legislative Council of the Victorian Parliament voted to refer the below matter to the Victorian Ombudsman.

That this house:

1. pursuant to section 16 of the Ombudsman Act 1973 refers the following matter to the Ombudsman for investigation and report:
   
   (a) allegations aired on 60 Minutes and in the Age that the Honourable Adem Somyurek, MLC, and other ministers misused members’ staff and other budget entitlements against the provisions of relevant statutes, guides and rules of the Parliament of Victoria for internal Australian Labor Party purposes, including ‘branch stacking’;
   
   (b) any other breach of applicable policies, laws or codes in relation to these allegations;
   
   
2. supports other relevant Victorian authorities, including the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) investigating these allegations for potential corrupt behaviour and breaches of the Crimes Act 1958 and other Victorian laws; and requires the Clerk to write to the Victorian Ombudsman and the IBAC Commissioner to convey the terms of this resolution.