Anthony Albanese’s decision to reduce staff allocations cited by Sally Rugg in her pursuit against the Commonwealth

Sally Rugg’s explosive unfair dismissal case against her Teal MP boss has shifted its focus onto the Prime Minister.

Monique Ryan’s former chief of staff has shifted her focus from the Kooyong MP to the prime minister ahead of her explosive unfair dismissal case going to trial.

In new documents filed with the Federal Court, Sally Rugg outlines her pursuit against the Commonwealth for alleged breaches of the Fair Work Act, pointing the finger at Anthony Albanese’s decision to reduce staff allocations.

The documents state that Mr Albanese, as opposition leader in 2021, received two reports about the parliamentary workplaces that raised concerns about staff working long hours.

However, he proceeded to reduce the staff allocation for independent members from four personal staff to one full-time.

Sally Rugg. Picture: Ian Currie

Monique Ryan. Picture: Ian Currie

“The prime minister’s direction constituted a major change likely to have a significant effect on employees,” Ms Rugg’s amended claim states, adding that the Commonwealth and Mr Albanese ignored required consultation processes.

It states that Ms Rugg’s annual salary of $136,607 covered a 38-hour week and the $30,205 allowance of an extra 8.4 hours a week, which means she wasn’t compensated for the hours in excess of that.

Ms Rugg claims she regularly worked more than 65 hours a week including weekends, and worked an average of 58 hours a week across 18.86 weeks, including weekends during her work with Dr Ryan.

She claims she was threatened four times by Dr Ryan that she was not working hard enough and would have her employment terminated, despite raising concerns about working unreasonable hours.

Sally Rugg has pointed the finger at Anthony Albanese’s decision to reduce staff allocations. Picture: Martin Ollman

Ms Rugg is seeking compensation for loss of earnings and the “hurt, distress and humiliation” she has suffered.

While Dr Ryan is still a respondent in the case, it is understood Ms Rugg amended her claim to take aim more at the Commonwealth, who were the sticking point in negotiations to settle the case, then her ex-boss.

The Herald Sun understands Dr Ryan and Ms Rugg wanted to come to an arrangement to make the highly publicised court litigation go away, but the Commonwealth, which pays Ms Rugg’s salary, refused to back down.

A trial date has not been set but is expected to be later this year.