Fellow upper house MP Philip Dalidakis​ was sworn in as the Andrews' government newest minister this afternoon at Government House, inheriting all of Mr Somyurek's portfolios,  including small business, innovation and trade.
Mr Dalidakis said he had a commercial and finance background and also had experience running his own small business.

Labor's right faction, including Mr Somyurek's breakaway sub-faction, endorsed Mr Dalidakis as their candidate, and he was then voted in by caucus in a meeting that lasted just minutes.

His upper house colleagues Jaclyn Symes and Shaun Leane were also in contention for the role.

Mr Somyurek was dumped as a minister on Tuesday after an investigation by former Office of Police Integrity boss Michael Strong found that he had inappropriately grabbed his former chief of staff Dimity Paul.

According to Mr Strong's report, Mr Somyurek "took Ms Paul by the arm to prevent her from leaving his office then took her chin in his hand and shook it gently from side to side as a form of admonition" during a meeting in his office in February.

Mr Somyurek's dismissal prompted an angry outburst in which he called for the sacking of Deputy Premier James Merlino and Mr Andrews' chief of staff John McLindon.

He also accused Michael Donovan, the state secretary of the shop assistant's union, of controlling Mr Andrews.

Mr Somyurek has consistently denied the bullying allegations raised by Ms Paul, saying they were payback for a factional row.

Mr Dalidakis was elected to the upper house in the 2014 election. He has previously worked as deputy chief of staff to Senator Stephen Conroy, and principal at SCG Advisory.

Mr Dalidakis told reporters the parliamentary team was united despite Mr Somyurek's dismissal this week.

Premier Daniel Andrews said Mr Dalidakis was a "good fit" for his new portfolios. "There was a deep field. There were a number of people putting themselves forward and obviously those who are successful are more pleased than those who aren't. That's just the nature of these things," he said.

Mr Somyurek said he was "very happy" with the result. "Good minister, good government," he said.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy congratulated the first-term politician being made Small Business Minister.

"I hope he comes to the portfolio with a little more enthusiasm than it appears his colleagues had for his predecessor. The government has spent the best part of the week fighting among itself, so I hope the appointment of a new minister gives the government a bit of focus."

When asked whether the current controversy had any similarities to the Geoff Shaw saga that threatened the former Coalition government, Mr Guy said "no".