Victorian Labor powerbroker Adem Somyurek denies allegations he threatened colleague and Sports Minister John Eren with a butterknife during a "robust discussion" that has sparked a parliamentary investigation.
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Mr Somyurek released a statement on social media about the confrontation, which happened in the members-only dining room on Wednesday night.
"Last night I had a robust discussion with my Labor colleague John Eren, a person I have known for 30 years," Mr Somyurek posted on Twitter.
"I made a comment to Mr Eren in the bar about internal party matters and returned to the dining room, where I was having dinner with colleagues, including Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor, and Local Government (Marlene Kairouz).
"I was surprised when Mr Eren followed me into the dining room, clearly agitated."
Mr Somyurek said he was seated while Mr Eren stood and the Turkish-born MPs had a "robust exchange in our native tongue".
"At no point was I holding a butter knife. At no time did I threaten anyone."
It has been reported Mr Eren will tell parliamentary investigators that Mr Somyurek did hold the piece of cutlery.
Ms Kairouz has backed Mr Somyurek, saying she did not see a knife involved.
"They should shake hands and move on," she said.
Mr Eren confirmed the altercation.
"There was an incident that took place last night and I've reported that to the presiding officer," Mr Eren told parliament.
Speaker Colin Brooks and upper house president Bruce Atkinson have described the incident reported to them as a "heated exchange".
"We have met this morning with the three parliamentary department heads and agreed to conduct an internal parliamentary investigation to ascertain the facts of the matter," they said in a joint statement.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy launched an attack on Mr Eren, accusing him of assaulting Mr Somyurek and drinking beforehand.
"I absolutely refute the allegations that have been made by the leader of the opposition," Mr Eren said.
Premier Daniel Andrews told parliament he would not ask Mr Eren to stand down.
Mr Somyurek was not in the Legislative Council when MPs gathered for question time on Thursday.
Upper house opposition leader Mary Wooldridge questioned if the ministerial code of conduct had been breached and the chamber descended into a slanging match when she listed controversies involving Labor MPs and called them a "bunch of scandal-ridden abusive misfits".
Mr Somyurek stood down as small-business minister in 2015 following bullying allegations from his former chief of staff.
In recent months, he has been leading a push for a factional realignment within ALP Victoria.
Australian Associated Press
