Branch-stacking allegations in Victoria

(AAP) - The Victorian ALP headquarters will investigate damning new allegations of branch stacking but calls for a wider independent inquiry are likely to go unanswered.

The opposition is calling for three separate inquiries - by the Victorian Ombudsman
and state and federal electoral commissioners - over claims of systematic branch
stacking in Melbourne's western suburbs.
But the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) and the Australian Electoral Commission
(AEC) say it is not within their jurisdictions to investigate branch stacking.
A spokeswoman for the Ombudsman would not comment, and it is unclear whether the
office has the power to investigate internal matters within the ALP, even if it
implicates a serving MP.
Former ministerial staffer turned whistleblower Costas Socratous claims he was
involved in the systematic rorting of branch memberships over a decade to prop up
the ALP's powerful right faction.
Mr Socratous alleges the scheme was devised by former state MP Theo Theophanous and
parliamentary secretary Telmo Languiller.
He claims it also benefited Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and federal
parliamentary secretary Bill Shorten.
Mr Languiller and Mr Theophanous both deny the claims.
In a statement, ALP state secretary Nick Reece said he was seeking evidence from Mr
Socratous to support his claims and the matter would be fully investigated.
"I take these allegations very seriously. Branch stacking has no place in the ALP,"
he said.
But Mr Socratous said an internal investigation was futile.
"If you want an investigation bring me the ombudsman, bring me the police, bring me
the electoral commission but not the Labor Party because it has been done before and
everything was covered up," he told the ABC.
ALP insiders are also doubtful whether an internal inquiry can clean out branch
stackers within its ranks.
"I'd like to think they would but until something happens I don't believe it will,"
one Labor MP told AAP.
"I think Telmo and Theo were masters of branch stacking ... and if you hit the
masters you might stop some of the followers."
Mr Socratous, a Brimbank councillor from 2005 to 2008, until last year worked in the
electorate offices of federal Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor and Mr
Theophanous.
He was stood down by Mr Theophanous in the wake of a damaging investigation into
political interference at Brimbank Council.
Mr Theophanous claims his former employee has a vendetta and he wants to know what
deals were struck in a meeting he had with the opposition.
"I would welcome an inquiry but it should also examine the role of Ted Baillieu's
office and what that office may have promised Costas Socratous to come forward," Mr
Theophanous told AAP.
"Costas Socratous never had anything to do with the branch in my electorate. I think
he's simply trying to draw me in because I stood him down because of concerns I had
about his loyalty to me and the ALP."
Ms Gillard told ABC radio the rules were clear and any suggestion that 80 per cent
of memberships in her own electorate were fake was "simply not true".
David Davis, opposition spokesman for scrutiny of government, has written to the
AEC, the VEC and the Ombudsman calling for separate inquiries.
He also wants Mr Languiller to step aside as parliamentary secretary for health.
"These allegations are serious, they relate to corruption inside the ALP and real
issues of corruption and integrity inside the Brumby government. They must be
investigated," he said.
Mr Languiller could not be contacted.