Andrew Bragg demands answers on cost of Rugg vs Ryan

A Liberal Senator says taxpayers have a right to know how much Sally Rugg’s Federal Court action against the teal MP and the commonwealth is costing them.

MP for Kooyong, Monique Ryan, arrives home in Hawthorn on Saturday.

Liberal senator Andrew Bragg has called on the federal government to reveal details of the cost to taxpayers of Sally Rugg’s legal case against teal independent MP Monique Ryan.

Ms Rugg – who remains on the payroll as Dr Ryan’s chief of staff despite not having worked since December – is pursuing action against Dr Ryan and the commonwealth in the Federal Court.

Justice Debra Mortimer is due to deliver a judgment on Tuesday on Ms Rugg’s case that she should be allowed to return to work in the Kooyong MP’s office, despite evidence from Dr Ryan that their relationship is “irreparable”, and that she does not have “trust and confidence” in the activist and former Change.org executive director’s ability to perform the required work.

The judge is also expected to set a date later this year for what is anticipated to be a lengthy trial of Ms Rugg’s broader case against the commonwealth over claims of ­“serious contraventions” of the Fair Work Act in the form of allegedly being required to work unreasonable hours.

Monique Ryan and Sally Rugg in happier times.

Senator Bragg told The Australian on Sunday that he had not been satisfied with answers Finance Minister Katy Gallagher had provided in response to questions on notice he tabled in parliament when the case first became public in early February.

“A lot of taxpayer funds are being spent here, and it’s not good enough for the government to hide behind woolly answers,” said Senator Bragg, chairman of the Senate’s economics references committee. “We need to know how much this is costing. That’s why I’ve asked these questions.”

Sally Rugg (left) heads into court ahead of the continuing case of unfair work hours against her former employer Federal MP Monique Ryan. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Ian Currie

Senator Bragg’s original questions on notice related to whether any commonwealth resources had been provided to Dr Ryan to defend the case brought against her and the commonwealth, whether the Department of Finance had been engaged to address the claims made by Ms Rugg against the commonwealth, whether any briefings had been provided to the minister in relation to Ms Rugg’s claims, and whether any external legal advice had been sought by the department to defend the commonwealth.

Senator Gallagher responded on February 24, saying it was “longstanding practice” that the department “does not provide specific details of individual claims, particularly claims that are currently before the court”.

However, the minister did confirm that all MPs and senators were provided with commonwealth-funded insurance for claims relating to the conduct of parliamentary business, including employment matters, and that she had not received any briefings.

Senator Gallagher said that as per the relevant law, MPs and senators were provided with external legal advice and representation procured from the whole of government legal services panel.

Senator Bragg has put further questions on notice, including about the existence and size of any cap on insurance claims available to each MP and senator, whether any offer was made to settle with Ms Rugg, and the cost so far of legal advice relating to the case. He said Ms Rugg’s allegations against Dr Ryan were “very serious”.

“They effectively suggest attempts have been made to defraud the commonwealth,” Senator Bragg said, referencing Ms Rugg’s claims in affidavits that Dr Ryan could not “have a paper trail” detailing a deal for Ms Rugg to leave her office in exchange for six weeks’ pay.

Dr Ryan has strongly denied Ms Rugg’s claims, citing email correspondence with Ministerial and Parliamentary Services the day after the deal was struck, which demonstrates that the Department of Finance was aware of the terms of the agreement.