Jacqui Lambie ‘bullying and stalking’ ex-staffer Fern Messenger in email

A former staffer to Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has told a court she is ‘in fear’ of her former boss.

Jacqui Lambie. Picture: Gary Ramage

A former staffer to Jacqui Lambie has told a court she is “in fear” of her ex-boss, alleging the senator sent her a “bullying and stalking” email that was a “veiled threat”.

Fern Messenger, who with husband Rob worked for Senator Lambie until they were sacked in May 2017, urged the Burnie Magistrates Court to grant a restraining order against the Tasmanian politician on Monday.

“Senator Lambie is a risk to me and I’m in fear of her,” Mrs Messenger told the court, giving evidence that an email sent to her by her former boss at 11.37pm on January 29 this year was part of a “pattern of behaviour”.

However, lawyer Glynn Williams, acting for Senator Lambie, who appeared via audio link, told the court the application was a “circus” designed to “extort … bad publicity” for his client.

Rob Messenger and wife Fern.

As revealed by The Australian last month, the court heard the email, which Mrs Messenger gave evidence was sent from Senator Lambie’s personal email address, was subject lined “Really Fern”, and read: “How far will you actually go? Submissive, that’s why your own mother has a problem with you. Seriously I give up, why Fern, why!!! Is he worth it and how (sic) the girls going!!!”

Mrs Messenger, representing herself, said the email compounded harm to her mental health caused by Senator Lambie and was “a veiled threat against myself and my family”.

At one point during proceedings breaking down in tears, Mrs Messenger said the email came ahead of a Federal Court case, in which the Messengers are suing Senator Lambie for alleged unlawful dismissal, and other legal action.

Mr Williams, a former Jacqui Lambie Network candidate, urged Magistrate Tamara Jago to dismiss the application as an “abuse of process”.

“The predominant purpose (of the application) is to publicly humiliate and degrade my client…an opportunity for publicity,” he said.

He said that while the chief magistrate had in earlier proceedings commented there was a “prima facie” case that the email could amount to offensive conduct, the application was “doomed” as it was based on “conspiracy theories”.

Ms Jago adjourned the case for a ruling on July 31 on Mr Williams’ application to have it dismissed as an abuse of process. She said if the application survived that ruling, she would allocate a further hearing date.

Mrs Messenger foreshadowed calling evidence from her psychiatrist should the application continue beyond July 31. On Monday, Senator Lambie was not required to give evidence.

Before the proceedings began, the Messengers and Mr Williams were involved in a heated verbal exchange outside the courtroom.