Thread by @PoliBard

OK and we're back live with #OpWatts at IBAC. And interestingly, it's a (Continued) cross examination of Byrne by Somyurek's council.

And we're back into the text messages, with a perjury warning to spice things up.

Here we go......

We're getting into text messages regarding the evidence given yesterday about Somyurek's assistance/non interference in the Dandy council mayoral race.

"The dipstick Jen" 😂😂😂😂

"To remind him who runs the show" 😬

Council suggesting Byrne is the chief, not Somyurek
#OpWatts

"Where we cut Michaelson's throat" - spicy texts.
Council pushing hard that Byrne is the master, Somyurek the apprentice.

"Was Michaelson a potential threat to you?" - clever question to push that angle, but Byrne not delivering the ideal response.
#OpWatts

Byrne - "You would have to be on the dark side of the moon not to know Somyurek was in charge"

Council - Yeah, I live there 😂😂😂

This is rather entertaining today.

Council arguing that Loy Truang being advanced by Byrne.
#OpWatts

Council assisting intervenes to ask that Somyurek's council refrains from asking new questions, reminds him that his brief is limited to challenging statements already given by Byrne, Commissioner agrees, asks SC to move on.
#OpWatts

SC is pushing the angle that Byrne wanted to destroy Michaelson, all Byrne will give him is that Somyurek wanted to destroy Michaelson, and wanted his assistance.

#OpWatts

It's moving a little slowly today, SC is stopping on certain issues and trying to push for a change of testimony from Byrne. Really keen to make out from Byrne's texts that Byrne was in charge, assisted by Somyurek.

Byrne claims texts lack context of phone calls made
#OpWatts

Council assisting intervening again to pull up SC.
Commissioner directs SC to stick to reading texts and asking Byrne to explain

Ok then. Here's one: "If she mucks up, I will make sure she appears in a 4 corners hatchet job on China."
What's that mean?

LOL
#OpWatts

Now we're on to ethnic groups. SC clearly has a mission, but it's not quite aligned with IBACs mission, and I think he's going to get pulled up quite a few times by the commissioner.

#OpWatts

Byrne objecting that a subject is over 25 years old, Commissioner intervenes to state that IBAC has a prevention mission, and given the endemic nature of branch stacking, it's allowable for SC to investigate.

Going for the master/apprentice angle again it seems.
#OpWatts

SC now pushing that Byrne tried to ingratiate himself with the Turkish community by donating to a Turkish newspaper. Byrne arguing it was Somyurek's idea, SC arguing Byrne did it independently.

And now we're on to the Albanian community.

#OpWatts

And moving right along to the Vietnamese community. Sounds like Byrne should have been made minister for multiculturalism.
SC now arguing that Byrne got Truang a job in the migrant research centre to he could recruit members.
Byrne arguing meritocracy. Irony.....
#OpWatts

And moving right along, Cambodians now.
SC arguing that they did the bidding of Byrne, but it's being denied.

And in the middle of talk about improperly paid memberships, the feed has been cut again.

I'll leave it there for now, work calls.
#OpWatts

LOL, just an addendum, SC has been warned that Somyurek's stage whispers are audible, and he should be aware of that, and probably would prefer they weren't.

Seems Adem can't be quiet, so they've gone on mute to confer. SC comes back to announce no further questions.
#OpWatts

Council assisting is now entering the fray again to ask about some additional text messages regarding "an indian kid" who deserved a job.

Byrne can't remember their name, or whether they got a job, but can remember they didn't work for him at any stage.
#OpWatts

Now council assist is going over the early 90's evidence introduced by SC, regarding ethnic community's identified for recruiting.
CA asks if these kind of recruiting activities continued right up until next year, despite rule changes. Byrne confirms they did.
#OpWatts

CA asks if it was limited to Byrne and Somyurek, or party wide, Byrne confirms it was party wide.
CA asks about Byrnes knowledge of other factions using these methods? Specifically Socialist left?
Byrne confirms, and CA wants to know how.
South East region? 💣
#OpWatts

CA asks Byrne if he understands the corruption risks arising from this activity, Byrne.

SC interrupts with a noise, commissioner intervenes to confirm, discovers it was an "involuntary expression of horror"
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

I'm seriously dying here.
#OpWatts

CA revisiting stuff covered yesterday now, and Commissioner is bringing up the Dreyfuss report again.
"All memberships must be paid for by members, all candidates for pre-selection must confirm they have not participated in organised purchase of memberships"

#OpWatts

#RedShirts gets another mention from the commissioner, and the recommendations made from that.

But "the ink had barely dried upon the page when the conduct resumed, and that conduct apparently horrifies you" - a rather cynical analysis of Byrne's character
#OpWatts

Commissioner goes on to state that there seems to be a complete lack of will to change the culture of the party by Byrne or anybody.
Commissioner asks Byrne for any evidence he has that branch stacking was attempted to be eliminated. Byrne disappoints...
#OpWatts

Commissioner acknowledges Byrne has given a great deal of evidence "against his interests" and says he should be commended for his open evidence, and he has enhanced the work of the commission. Announces Byrne's examination is concluded, and releases him from summons.
#OpWatts

Livestream will now cease until the next witness is ready. I'll return later on, hopefully it's not over.
#OpWatts

OK I'm back, might as well finish the day off. Let's see if Elle has anything interesting to say
#OpWatts

"My understanding is Adem controlled it all"
And negotiating via Bill Shorten's office, that could get interesting.
Everything was calculated in advance, we knew who was "getting up."
Sounds like Elle was involved in collectively filling in ballots, and it wasn't hidden.
#OpWatts

CA asks if all factions were doing this, Elle can only confirm that moderate Labor were doing this.
Now we're having an adjournment as Somyurek's council has made a request to corss examine Elle on some matters. Back offline again.
#OpWatts

I think that might be it for the day, screen just updated from "this part of the hearing is closed to the public" to "hearing adjourned" and as I type, IBAC has just confirmed so by tweet.

See you tomorrow folks. Or maybe later with a video from the bunker 😉
#OpWatts