Monique Ryan-Sally Rugg dispute adjourned after four-hour mediation

The four-hour mediation, where a ‘robust exchange of views’ left those in the room with ‘a lot to think about’, did not lead to a resolution.

Kooyong MP Monique Ryan will be back in court in March after failing to reach a resolution in her legal stoush with former staffer Sally Rugg. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

The federal government has been given more time to settle a dispute between itself, Teal MP Monique Ryan and her chief of staff, Sally Rugg.

Ms Rugg launched legal action against Dr Ryan and the Commonwealth in the Federal Court in January on allegations the MP caused the government to ­engage in “hostile conduct” by trying to fire her after she ­refused to work extra “unreasonable” hours.

Ms Rugg is arguing she “exercised a workplace right … to refuse to work additional hours that were unreasonable”, according to court filings.

She is seeking compensation and “pecuniary penalties”, as well as an acknowledgment from both the commonwealth and Dr Ryan that the “unreasonable additional hours” constitute a breach of nat­ional employment standards, .

The two appeared in Melbourne’s Federal Court on Friday and the matter was then ­adjourned, at the Commonwealth’s behest, after a court-ordered mediation on Thursday failed to reach a settlement.

Sally Rugg. Picture: David Caird

Despite this, Nick Harrington, for the commonwealth, was positive, saying there was a “robust exchange of views … as often happens and a lot to think about as a consequence afterwards”.

He said “everything was touched upon” and the meeting lasted four hours. “There’s great optimism that 14 more days … will give the parties more time to give consideration to the issues.”

Judge Debra Mortimer warned all parties that after a month of negotiations, she would need more information if they sought a further adjournment.

Dr Ryan and Ms Rugg will return to court on March 3.

Additional reporting:
NCA NewsWire