Bradley Johnson blasts Tony Piccolo apology letter for claiming alleged bullying was ‘office banter’

Labor MP Tony Piccolo has apologised to a young staffer accusing him of bullying – but his explanation has not gone down well.

A Labor MP accused of bullying a staffer has had his apology letter blasted by the former employee, who labelled it a “classic non-apology”.

Member for Light Tony Piccolo is accused of bullying former trainee Bradley Johnson at the Gawler electorate office between January and December 2018.

The allegations resulted in an internal party investigation into Mr Piccolo as well as an external probe.

In a letter sent to Mr Johnson on Friday, Mr Piccolo said he was “sorry (Mr Johnson) did not have a more positive experience while working as a trainee”.

“Upon reflecting on your concerns, I can see how, over time, the environment within the Light Electorate Office became overly casual at times, as long-term staff who knew each other well engaged in lighthearted office banter,” Mr Piccolo wrote.

“I now understand that as a new young employee, I should have had greater regard for how this office environment could have had an impact on you.

“While there was never an intention to cause you to feel uncomfortable while in the workplace, I acknowledge your stated concerns that the office banter, behaviour of staff and some comments made by me had a negative impact on you.”

Bradley Johnson, a former trainee staffer of Labor MP Tony Piccolo. Picture: Brenton Edwards

In an earlier letter sent to Labor leader Peter Malinauskas, Mr Johnson claimed Mr Piccolo made inappropriate comments about his weight in front of other staff, and sent “personal emails criticising my work and copying in all staff members, and making jokes at my expense”.

Mr Johnson said Mr Piccolo’s letter was not actually an apology for the alleged conduct of Mr Piccolo or his staff.

“It’s a classic non-apology, which I think anyone who reads it can realise,” he said.

“Tony claiming ‘office banter’ shows he still doesn’t understand the breadth and extent of his behaviour.

“How he thinks commenting on my weight is ‘banter’ is beyond me.”

Light MP Tony Piccolo is accused of bullying a former staffer at his electorate office in 2018. Picture: Jack Hudson.

Treasurer Rob Lucas, whose portfolio oversees electorate officer matters, said Mr Piccolo was sill refusing to be interviewed by a government-appointed investigator looking into the allegations.

“The government’s investigation will continue and we can only urge Mr Malinauskas to direct or order that Mr Piccolo make himself available for an interview,” he said.

“The critical issue in relation to any apology is how it’s actually accepted by the person it is directed at.

“It’s obviously very disappointing that the purported apology is unacceptable to Mr Johnson.

Our investigation will certainly continue into Mr Johnson’s allegations.”

Labor has refused to release the results of the internal report into the bullying claims, launched by the party in August.

Labor Party state secretary Reggie Martin has previously said the report, which was completed by an Adelaide law firm, was confidential.