Tassie senator Jacqui Lambie’s ex-staffers lose unfair dismissal suit

Two former staffers of Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie have learned their fate in court after launching an unfair dismissal claim against the politician.

Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie’s former staffers lost their unfair dismissal case against the politician with a judge slamming their conduct.

Former chief of staff Rob Messenger and his wife Fern, who also worked for the senator, launched legal action against the Commonwealth and Ms Lambie in the Federal Court.

They claimed they were sacked in 2017 as reprisal for their numerous complaints about Ms Lambie’s conduct.

The couple alleged her inappropriate office behaviour included swearing, sexual references, drinking alcohol, not taking safety concerns seriously and expecting unreasonable workloads from staff.

During the lengthy hearing the pair represented themselves in court.

But on Friday Justice John Snaden dismissed the lawsuit.

He said none of the causes of action against the politician or the Commonwealth were made out.

“The Messengers were at times unable to contain the obvious personal animus they reserve for Senator Lambie,” Justice Snaden wrote in his judgment.

The couple put matters in evidence that were “highly inappropriate” and some were “self-evidently scandalous” and of no significance to the proceeding, he wrote.

“Despite repeated warnings the Messengers appeared at times determined to turn the trial into some kind of broad ranging judicial inquiry in Senator Lambie’s character, or which is worse, in a trial by media,” Justice Snaden said.