Richard Marles 'satisfied' with his compliance of Ministerial Code of Conduct
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More news: Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said he was satisfied with the way he complied with the Ministerial Code of Conduct after being asked by Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley during Question Time.
The code states that ministers have an obligation to “demonstrate and uphold the highest workplace standards including maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for their staff".
What they said: "The short answer to the question is I am satisfied,” he said. "But I would like to say this — Jo Tarnawsky started working for me back in 2012 and she is someone who I have known for a long time,” he said.
“She is a wonderful person… and now she has given me great service and I remain deeply grateful for that. She is a person who is completely committed to social justice in this country and I very much admire her.
“I feel very sad that events have got to where they have. It is obviously very difficult. Let me say that the way in which I have tried to manage this, I have done so with Jo's welfare in mind at every moment — as I would try to manage things on that basis for all of my staff.
“As is evident, this matter is now in the hands of lawyers — of course that is absolutely Jo's right, but it does mean that it is difficult for me to say anything more on this.”
Richard Marles' chief of staff alleges she was bullied and driven out of job
The news: The chief of staff for Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has accused him of driving her out of the job she loved after raising allegations of bullying in the office.
The context: Jo Tarnawsky, who is still officially in the role, held a press conference in Parliament House on Thursday morning where she alleged she had been subjected to “cowardly, cruel and completely unnecessary” behaviour by Marles.
It came on the same day that Marles is serving as Acting Prime Minister with Anthony Albanese at the ASEAN summit in Laos.
Tarnawsky is the most senior female staffer in the Albanese government. As chief of staff to the deputy prime minister and defence minister she had a key strategic and managerial role in the government.
She alleges that she raised the bullying allegations with Marles during a flight back to Australia from Ukraine in late April. She alleges he then said he acknowledged the concerns and to leave it with him.
Once they returned to Australia, Tarnawsky alleges Marles told her to look for alternative employment before placing her on several weeks leave while saying: “Trust me, I know how to handle it.”
She said when she tried to return to work in June, Albanese’s chief of staff Tim Gartrell told her that she could never return to her role or any other role in Marles' office.
Tarnawsky’s lawyer Michael Bradley said the concerns his client raised with Marles on the flight related to “bulling behaviour and other inappropriate behaviour among staff in the office”. Bradley declined to expand on what that alleged behaviour was but confirmed Marles himself did not engage in the behaviour.
But Bradley said Marles sought to “drive her out of the job” and “shoot the messenger”, which amounted to adverse action.
He did not say whether his client would launch legal action against Marles or the Commonwealth, but it has been raised as part of the processes set up following the Jenkins review into workplace behaviour at Parliament House.
A spokesperson for Marles told Guardian Australia that he disputed Tarnawsky's characterisation of events.
“A number of the assertions and recollections are contested,” the spokesperson said. “Ms Tarnawsky remains a member of staff. Ms Tarnawsky has been treated with respect and courtesy. At all times, the wellbeing of staff, including Ms Tarnawsky, has been front of mind. Out of respect for Ms Tarnawsky, and the prospect of legal proceedings, it is not appropriate to make further comment.”
The culture of Parliament has been under the microscope in recent years after the treatment of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins and number of others, including MPs and other staffers.
What they said: “I have spent my entire career in public service, including senior positions as a diplomat and also for the governor-general. Acting with kindness and integrity has always been important to me,” Tarnawsky said.
“He praised the work that I did, and it was a job I loved until May this year.
“During the flight home from an official trip to Ukraine in late April, I raised concerns privately with the deputy prime minister about some bullying behaviour within the office. He acknowledged the concerns, restated the value he placed in me and my work, and said we should have a chat about it.
“However, when we returned to Australia he called me and in direct response to the concerns that I had raised, he made it clear that I should start looking for alternative employment. Any of my attempts to resolve the issue or discuss it in person were refused. He demanded that I take several weeks of leave immediately.
“No fair process has been followed. I continue to be employed officially as the deputy prime minister’s chief of staff, but I have been prevented from doing my job. I am unable to access my office unless I provide 24 hours notice and I have been warned by a senior staffing representative that I am not safe and to stay away from DPMO.
“The way that I have been treated has been cowardly, cruel and completely unnecessary.
“What I want is for people to know the truth and for Richard Marles, as well as those who enabled his behaviour, to be held accountable for what has happened.”
The sources: Question Time, Parliament press conference
