And you thought footy players were bad! Shocking leaked texts reveal how MPs REALLY behave behind closed doors as Labor's secret tapes crisis takes an explosive turn
- Text messages from Labor MP Anthony Byrne to Adem Somyurek were leaked
- Mr Somyurek reportedly released the private messages as political payback
- In the messages Mr Byrne says he wants to 'p**s on the corpse' of Alan Griffin
- He also talks about Bill Shorten, Daniel Andrews and former MP Michael Danby
Labor backbencher Anthony Byrne (pictured) said he wanted to 'piss on the corpse' of Alan Griffin, calls a female MP a 'drunk' and an unnamed female Labor activist a 'ratf**ker' in the text messages
Explosive text messages written by federal Labor MP Anthony Byrne have been released by disgraced party powerbroker Adem Somyurek, after the backbencher agreed to cooperate with corruption investigators.
In the private text messages Mr Byrne says he wants to 'p**s on the corpse' of former federal Labor MP Alan Griffin, calls a female politician a 'drunk' and an unnamed female Labor activist a 'ratf**ker'.
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and retired federal MP Michael Danby are also subject to criticism in the text messages.
The text messages were reportedly released as political payback by Mr Somyurek according to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
In one of the messages to Mr Somyurek, Mr Byrne promises to ruin the career of a Labor operative.
'Because if she mucks you up I will make sure she guest stars in the next Four Corners hatchet job on China. Which I will be on. Watch her, she's a ratf**ker,' he wrote.
The Victorian backbencher used vile language to express his disdain for Mr Griffin: 'I want Griffin destroyed. I want his head cut off and then I am going to p**s on his corpse'.
In the private text messages Mr Byrne says he wants to 'piss on the corpse' of Alan Griffin, calls a female MP a 'drunk' and an unnamed female Labor activist a 'ratf**ker'
Adem Somyurek (pictured) reportedly released the text messages as political payback against Mr Byrne
He wrote to Mr Somyurek on another occasion: 'On the plane with Bill (Shorten) and the drunk (female Labor figure). She's dribbling s**t.'
Mr Byrne also expressed his anger towards the Victorian Premier: 'Hope Daniel (Andrews) enjoys the victory. I hope this signs his death warrant politically'.
Mr Byrne said Mr Somyurek had 'selectively released a hand-picked selection of text messages I sent over two years'.
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'Just hours after I made a public statement that I had contacted authorities and would assist with their corruption investigations into him. That speaks for itself,' Mr Byrne said in a statement.
An investigation by The Age and 60 Minutes, which claimed the scalps of Mr Somyurek and two allies, involved secret recordings in Mr Byrne's Melbourne electorate office in Cranbourne West.
There are fears his office could have been bugged.
The potential problem is more acute given Mr Byrne's position on federal parliament's powerful intelligence committee.
'On the plane with Bill (Shorten) (pictured) and the drunk (female Labor figure). She's dribbling s**t,' he wrote on another occasion
'In respect of the misinformation circulating, I want to make clear that I take the matters raised recently seriously and have been in touch with authorities to offer my full assistance,' Mr Byrne told AAP.
'I welcome investigations into corruption, which has no place in the party I love.
'Because I do not want to cross over or impede any investigations that may be occurring, I'm unable to comment further at this point in time.'
Attorney-General Christian Porter described the installation of a recording device with an MP's office as a serious concern.
Mr Porter questioned why Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese had not questioned his backbencher about it.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg poked fun at the scandal during Question Time, when the intelligence committee's Liberal chairman gave him a free hit.
Mr Byrne also expressed his anger towards the Victorian Premier: 'Hope Daniel (Andrews) enjoys the victory. I hope this signs his death warrant politically'
'He, unlike other members of that committee, has informed me that he doesn't have any secret hidden cameras in his office,' Mr Frydenberg told parliament.
The prime minister also put the boot in when fielding a crossbench question about plans for a national integrity commission.
'I would be very surprised if those opposite in the Labor Party would be asking questions about integrity today,' Scott Morrison said.
Both attempts at humour elicited audible groans from those on the Labor benches.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said he had not spoken to Mr Byrne about the branch-stacking scandal, which is being investigated by Victoria Police and the state's Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.
Under Victorian law, recording a conversation does not require the consent of the person being recorded, unlike some other states.
