Federal Liberal member for Deakin and Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar has rejected allegations he had any knowledge that his brother, best friend, and factional supporters misused taxpayer funds for political work. This comes as Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) investigates current and former Labor MPs over the misuse of public money for “party‐political work or other improper purposes,” such as branch stacking after the 60 Minutes and The Age alleged that in 2017 and 2019 taxpayer funds for electoral office budgets were diverted towards building factional power that benefitted Sukkar. Sukkar has previously denied any involvement in branch stacking and blamed the improper actions on a relatively junior political staffer, Josh Bonney. It was also alleged by 60 Minutes and The Age that electoral office staff were placed in the office of MP Kevin Andrews. Under parliament’s rules, electorate office staff cannot work on party political matters, and are employed …