Exiled chief of staff sues Richard Marles, Albanese staffer
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The news: Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles is being sued by his exiled chief of staff, who claims she was effectively dismissed after she raised accusations of bullying by a subordinate.
The context: Jo Tarnawsky revealed on Monday that she had lodged a complaint against Marles, the prime minister’s chief of staff Tim Gartrell, and the federal government under the Fair Work Act.
Court documents show Tarnawsky claims she was effectively dismissed from her role earlier this year, after reporting bullying by Marles' director of media, Kate Hanns. As chief of staff, Tarnawsky is Hanns' boss.
Tarnawsky, who was previously at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, alleges she has been locked out of Marles’ office since then and has been on miscellaneous leave for roughly 200 days.
Tarnawsky’s lawyer Michael Bradley repeatedly declined to reveal the nature of the alleged bullying, and did not name the figure she was seeking in compensation. She is still technically employed as Marles’ chief of staff but, given the nature of the fallout, Bradley accepted she was not seeking to be reinstated.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Parliament, she said the situation remains unresolved and claimed “not a single member” of the government had checked on her wellbeing.
Marles and Gartrell are being sued for adverse action after she reported the bullying, and do not face bullying accusations themselves.
A government spokesperson said it would not be appropriate to comment given the matter is now before the courts. A spokesperson for Marles has previously said that a number of Tarnawsky’s claims are contested.
What they said: “After the window dressing of parliamentary workplace reforms has been put in place, the government is testing in real time what it can get away with,” she said.
The source: Jo Tarnawsky press conference
