Premier Daniel Andrews says Victorians will decide what consequences he should face for being ignorant about the "appalling" behaviour of MP Adem Somyurek until claims were aired on television.
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That comes as Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien has accused the leader of being ultimately responsible for Mr Somyurek's "disgraceful abuse of power".
Mr Somyurek was sacked from cabinet by Mr Andrews on Monday, and resigned from the Labor Party as it was preparing to expel him, over branch-stacking allegations and "deplorable" comments.
A joint The Age-60 Minutes investigation alleges the upper house MP used thousands in cash and parliamentary employees to create fake branch members and amass influence within the ALP.
In recordings published by the outlets, Mr Somyurek also uses abusive language about Prevention of Family Violence Minister Gabrielle Williams and describes the young staffers helping him as "little passive-aggressive f***ing gay kids".
Mr Somyurek denies the stacking allegations but has apologised for his language regarding Ms Williams and the young LGBTI people.
Mr Andrews says he only learnt about the allegations when 60 Minutes aired them on Sunday night.
"No Victorian could be anything other than shocked watching that program last night, as I was," he told reporters on Monday.
"His conduct is appalling, it is completely unacceptable to me and that is why he was sacked at 9am this morning."
Mr Andrews said it would be up to others to cast judgement on his ignorance about the allegations until they were aired and what consequences he should personally face.
"Every Victorian makes their judgements about me and the team I lead. That's the nature of our process. We've been given a previous gift and I want to assure every Victorian I'm about getting things done," he said.
The premier admitted it was a "wrong" call to return Mr Somyurek to the ministry following the 2018 election win, after he was forced to stand down from cabinet in 2015 over bullying allegations.
"It was my judgement, and I think the judgement of many others, that he had worked hard to make the case that he would be a minister that worked hard for all Victorians," Mr Andrews said.
"Clearly, that judgement was wrong."
Mr O'Brien said Mr Andrews was ultimately responsible for the "disgraceful abuse of power" which the allegations represent.
"Daniel Andrews has been the leader of the Labor Party for the last 10 years. He's set the standard, he has created the culture," he told reporters.
The opposition say they will pursue action through parliament over the allegations and by other means "because Victorians deserve better than a corrupt political system".
Australian Associated Press
