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Vic minister forced to resign

Victorian Small Business Minister Adem Somyurek has been forced to resign after an investigation found he bullied and intimidated staff.

A report handed to the premier said the upper house MP had had “physical contact” with a female member of staff, while another staff member was sacked for standing up for a colleague.

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Premier Daniel Andrews said he had lost confidence in Mr Somyurek and he would be replaced.

The report found Mr Somyurek physically prevented his chief of staff Dimity Paul from leaving an office, and held her by the chin, telling her to calm down.

Mr Andrews said Mr Somyurek had not resigned from his upper house South-Eastern Metropolitan seat or the Labor party.

“Rightly, appropriately, he has paid a very heavy price,” the premier said on Tuesday.

“I’m certain he will commit himself to working hard for the people of the south east.”

Mr Somyurek has maintained his innocence, amid suggestions the investigation was part of a factional hit against the right-aligned MP.

Mr Andrews said he didn’t expect the government to struggle with factional rifts after Mr Somyurek was forced out.

Justice Michael Strong’s report did not recommend any charges be laid over Mr Somyurek’s actions, but Mr Andrews said they were “deeply concerning”.

Mr Somyurek, however, said a union revenge plot is the behind bullying allegations.

The upper house MP said leaving the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association in February had brought the union’s wrath upon his head. ”

We knew there would be payback, we had no idea this payback would be so extreme,” Mr Somyurek told reporters.

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