HUNTER Labor MPs have condemned the conduct of axed Victorian minister Adem Somyurek, saying it has brought the party into disrepute at a time when "trust in the political system has never been lower".
Mr Somyurek, an upper house MP, was revealed in a 60 Minutes story that aired on Sunday to have distributed thousands of dollars in cash and used tax-payer funded staff to stack branches and wield political influence within the Labor Party.
Newcastle federal MP Sharon Claydon felt "sick to her core" watching Mr Somyurek's actions in the program.
"I found it quite repulsive to watch," she said. "There is absolutely no place for the stand-over tactics, misogynistic and homophobic behaviour that was on full display ... the idea he may hold any position of power in the Labor party is abhorrent.
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"I think Daniel Andrews has done the right thing and acted very swiftly.
"It's been a matter that's been referred to police and the Victorian commission, I understand."
Paterson MP Meryl Swanson said she felt "crushed" watching the story and it "dragged her straight back to 2011" when the party was embroiled a string of corruption scandals in NSW.
"We're all made less by this," she said. "You work so hard and, at a time when politicians' stakes and the trust in the political system has never been lower and you see something like that, it just made me feel crushed.
"The corruption, the flagrant misuse of power and that hunger for power, and that part of it where he is really being so condescending to a female colleague - as a woman I went, 'god, are we still having these battles?'."
In relation to branch stacking, Ms Swanson said as far she knew "it has never been an issue in the Hunter".
Shortland MP Pat Conroy said branch stacking "fundamentally undermines the democratic nature of the Labor Party" and he could "assure people that it does not occur in the Hunter".
"The conduct is utterly unacceptable. I support Anthony Albanese and Daniel Andrew's swift and strong intervention to have Mr Somyurek sacked ... and expelled from the party," he said.
In a brief statement, Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said he was glad Victorian premier Daniel Andrews had taken "quick and decisive action".
"We have zero tolerance for the kind of behaviour we saw on Sunday," he said.
Wallsend state MP Sonia Hornery said she missed the story but had seen the fallout in the media on Monday.
"It is disgraceful behaviour from anyone in the party, let alone a minister of a government," she said. "Anyone who even attempts to stack a branch or a preselection should be immediately removed from the party."
Charlestown state MP Jodie Harrison said in her observations, the local Labor Party membership base had not been subject "to any abnormal growth".
