Deputy PM Richard Marles settles with ex-chief of staff Jo Tarnawsky over office bullying allegations
Jo Tarnawsky says she has reached a confidential settlement with her ex-boss Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles – just days before a budget that will kick-off the election.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has settled a long-running workplace dispute with his outgoing chief of staff Jo Tarnawsky, ending a bitter saga where Labor’s number two was accused of “abandoning” his top aide to the alleged bullying of his other staff members.
Ms Tarnawsky had claimed last October that the Defence Minister made the call to effectively remove her from the senior position — despite her still officially holding the role — after she complained to him about “misconduct” and “bullying” from other staff.
Federal Court documents filed by Ms Tarnawsky’s lawyers late last year later singled out Mr Marles’ senior media adviser Kate Hanns in their allegations.
Mr Marles at the time of Ms Tarnawsky’s public push against his office said the career public servant was a ‘wonderful person” who had given him “excellent advice.” But his office did say her claims were contested.
A government spokeswoman on Friday said Mr Marles was glad the matter was closed and no adverse findings had been made against anyone.
“The welfare of all staff has been front of mind and remains so,” the spokeswoman said.
“No adverse findings have been made against any person.
“The proceeding will be discontinued.”
Ms Hanns was approached for comment on Friday.
The allegations dogged a Labor government that came to power promising to overhaul the culture in Parliament House after the Brittany Higgins allegations and the Jenkins Review into the national legislature’s treatment of people who raise complaints about bullying and harassment.
Ms Tarnawsky on Friday said she had reached a confidential settlement with Mr Marles – just days before a federal budget that will kick-off the election campaign – but that her experience showed there was much work to do to make parliament a safer place for staff.
“I came to work at Parliament House in 2022 shortly after the delivery of the Jenkins Review. The government pledged to ‘Set the Standard’ and announced a series of reforms that promised to make the parliamentary workplace safer for staffers like me. Like many, I had high hopes. But my experience has shown that much work remains to be done,” she said.
“Employees should feel safe to raise workplace concerns with their employers without fear of reprisal. Regrettably, that was not my experience. To obtain resolution, I had to embark on public and traumatic litigation. It is a relief to finally close this chapter and move on with my life.
“Speaking up comes with many costs but so does choosing to remain silent. When I look at what is happening in the world right now, holding firm to your values and standing up for what you believe in matters more than ever.”
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