Adem Somyurek’s push to open new ‘Red Shirts’ investigation PASSES parliament

A new investigation into the “Red Shirts” scandal is set to take place after Adem Somyurek’s controversial motion passed the upper house of Victorian parliament on Wednesday.

Labor MP Kaushaliya Vaghela sensationally crossed the floor to help the motion carry, 19 votes to 17.

It has called on Ombudsman Deborah Glass to reconsider the matter, with the view to referring it the state’s anti-corruption watchdog.

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten spoke with Tom Elliott moments after the vote, telling 3AW she supported the investigation but voted against the motion.

“There were many reasons, but IBAC and the Ombudsman are fiercely independent and I didn’t think it was appropriate that we, as a parliament, say – ‘we didn’t like the way you conducted it, so we’d like you to do your work again’ – it’s not actually our role,” she explained.

The scandal saw almost $388,000 in taxpayer money spent to help pay for political campaigning.

No charges were laid and Labor repaid the money.

“I have no doubt this about factions and scores being settled, but it is fascinating,” Tom Elliott said in response to the news.

Press PLAY below to hear Fiona Patten’s immediate reaction