The former chief of staff to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has lodged a claim under the Fair Work Act, alleging she was subjected to workplace bullying and then “exiled.”
The action is against Marles, the federal government, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Chief of Staff Tim Gartrell.
Neither Marles nor Gartrell are alleged to have been personally involved, though she does name a colleague as one of those responsible, along with several other, unnamed, people.
Jo Tarnawsky said she lodged the case after attempts at mediation had stalled, and that current situation was untenable.
“The government has been afforded multiple opportunities to rectify the wrongs done to me. But it has done nothing except duck and cover, collude and delay,” she said. “Two hundred days is too many. I am not waiting any longer. This matter will now be fully aired in court.
“After the window dressing of parliamentary workplace reforms has been put in place, the government is now testing, in real time, exactly what it can still get away with,” she told reporters. “But if the government won’t hold its own poor behaviour to account, then I will ask the courts to do that.
On Paid Leave, But Unable to Work
She alleges that when she spoke out about her situation, she was “exiled.”She claims she was advised to find another job and effectively locked out of her office. Though still employed, she was on indefinite leave. Her lawyers say this amounts to an adverse action under the Fair Work Act.
The claim alleges Marles told Gartrell on April 29 that he “no longer wanted Ms. Tarnawsky as his chief of staff,” and that the prime minister’s chief of staff did not inform her “or intervene to prevent Mr. Marles acting in the manner he proposed” and instead acted “to assist” Marles in stopping Tarnawsky from carrying out her role.
Tarnawsky said parliamentary staffers gave “countless hours of our lives to these jobs, in support of the ministers and MPs we serve. In return, we should not be tossed aside abruptly after such loyal service.”
When Tarnawsky first aired her allegations in October, Marles said he was satisfied the Ministerial Code of Conduct had not been breached and that he was grateful for her service as his chief.
“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,” he told Parliament. “It is obviously very difficult.
“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.”
The Epoch Times contacted Marles’ office comment.
