Expletive-laden texts plunge Labor Party into fresh turmoil

The Labor Party has been plunged into fresh turmoil, after explosive texts from a federal MP were leaked to the media. Labor leader Anthony Albanese sought assurances from Labor MP Anthony Byrne that he had not broken any laws after it was revealed his electorate office was bugged to record the backroom dealings of disgraced former Victorian minister Adem Somyurek. In a sign of apparent retribution, text messages were leaked to the media showing Mr Byrne disparaging his Labor colleagues. In a series of expletive-laden messages, Mr Byrne described former Labor Senator Sam Dastyari as “crooked” and “corrupt” and said former Labor leader Bill Shorten “makes me sick to my stomach with his ingratitude”. Mr Byrne also wished for the “political death” of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and said he wanted former politician Alan Griffin's “head cut off”. Labor leader Anthony Albanese addressed the scandal on Thursday morning, describing Mr Byrne’s language as “completely unacceptable and inappropriate”. Mr Albanese said he “counselled” Mr Byrne on his language, but said he had no intention of stripping Mr Byrne of his deputy chair position on the parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the scandal showed the Labor Party was “absolutely at war”. “We’re fighting for jobs, while they’re fighting each other,” Mr Morrison said. Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au