Revealed: The unusual arrangement in accused MP’s ‘toxic’ office

An employee in the office of an accused bully MP is one of only four to have reached confidential settlements in the last term of government, new data has revealed.

Labor Member for Cook Cynthia Lui has denied bullying allegations. Picture: Brendan Radke

Four confidential settlements were signed by electorate staff in the last term of government, new data has revealed, including by one employee from the office of an embattled Far North Queensland Labor MP.

Clerk of Parliament Neil Laurie confirmed four electorate staff signed “rare” deeds of arrangement over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years.

It can be revealed one of those electorate staff, Angelique Scott, worked in the office of embattled Labor Member for Cook Cynthia Lui.

Ms Lui has been accused of bullying and running a toxic workplace. She has denied the allegations.

Ms Scott, whose settlement included a nondisclosure clause, declined to comment.

But Ms Scott’s concerns about Ms Lui’s office were detailed in supporting documents filed by colleague James Giugni as part of a formal complaint lodged with the parliamentary service.

“I would describe the MP for Cook’s behaviour toward my colleague James and myself as bullying, belittling, paranoid and erratic,” she wrote.

“She refused to use the staff resources that were available to her … then blamed us when the workload became difficult or even impossible to control, or when the office was unattended due to her unwillingness to backfill the office during planned and unplanned leave.

“She did not support or respect our efforts to secure wellbeing in the workplace.”

Ms Lui again said an electorate office was a challenging and very demanding environment, noting the vast expanse of her area stretching from the Torres Strait in the north to Wangetti near Port Douglas in the south.

“I am often out of the office — in the electorate or in Parliament,” she said.

“This can make face-to-face staff meetings difficult so we use all available technology at our disposal to keep in touch daily, including Microsoft Teams, text message, email and phone calls.”

Mr Laurie said deeds of arrangement — designed to finalise employment on terms satisfactory to both parties — were rare.

He noted there were 800 full-time, part-time and casual staff employed across the parliamentary service per year, and just four deeds of arrangement had been granted in four years.

“I unequivocally state that every complaint is treated seriously and is investigated,” Mr Laurie said.

“I will not keep staff in place in any office where I perceive on reasonable grounds that there is a risk to their health and safety.

“I will not appoint new staff to any office where I perceive on reasonable grounds that there is a risk to their health and safety.”

Mr Laurie said employees could make complaints internally or through an external independent and confidential disclosure hotline, and asserted the avenues available were effective when used.

At least eight staff have left Ms Lui’s office in six years.