Independent probe into bullying allegations stalled because Labor MP Tony Piccolo has not agreed to be interviewed, Treasurer Rob Lucas says

A probe into alleged bullying by Labor MP Tony Piccolo is being kept secret, while a second has stalled, the Treasurer says, because Mr Piccolo has not yet agreed to be interviewed for it.

The member for Light, Tony Piccolo.

An independent probe into bullying claims against Light MP Tony Piccolo has stalled because he has not yet agreed to be interviewed by an investigator, Treasurer Rob Lucas says.

A separate Labor Party investigation into the matter has finished but its findings will not be made public.

Both inquiries were launched after the Labor stalwart was earlier this year accused of bullying one of his former staffers in 2018.

Bradley Johnson, who worked as a trainee in Mr Piccolo’s Gawler-based Light electorate office between January and December that year, claims his former boss used “bullying and harassment tactics” against him.

Bradley Johnson, a former trainee staffer of Labor MP Tony Piccolo, claimed Mr Piccolo bullied him and he was pushed to resign. Picture: Brenton Edwards

In a 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”.

Labor Party state secretary Reggie Martin said the finished report, which contains the findings of an investigation launched by the party in August, would not be publicly released.

“I am preparing correspondence for both parties involved in the complaint,” he said.

“The matter has been independently conducted by a respected Adelaide law firm, however the report is confidential.”

Shortly after Mr Johnson went public, Mr Piccolo lodged a freedom of information (FOI) request to access any documents held by the Treasury and Finance Department, which oversees electorate office matters, containing complaints about his own office.

The released documents show a September recommendation from Commissioner for Public Sector Employment Erma Ranieri that the bullying complaint be referred to the department for “further consideration”.

The department last month said it had received legal advice and launched a separate, independent investigation into the allegations.

Mr Piccolo said he lodged the FOI because Mr Lucas has been “playing politics” with the issue.

Light MP Tony Piccolo said he is looking forward to receiving the findings of the Treasury and Finance Department’s investigation. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

“I was concerned about Rob Lucas’ conduct, so I submitted an FOI to establish the facts,” he said.

“I welcome the independent investigation and look forward to receiving its findings.”

However, when asked about the status of the investigation, Mr Lucas said Mr Piccolo was being “disingenuous” given Mr Johnson had been interviewed but Mr Piccolo had not.

“Our investigator contacted (Mr Piccolo) about a month ago and, at this stage, he hasn’t agreed to be interviewed,” he said.

“I’d urge him to agree to be interviewed so we can bring this to a conclusion sooner rather than later.”

Mr Piccolo said he was happy to be interviewed but wanted further details.

“I have sent a letter to Treasury asking questions surrounding the investigation’s process and further detail, but I am yet to hear back,” he said.