‘Monkey card’ used by ex-chief of staff as evidence in Jacqui Lambie Federal Court unfair dismissal case

Jacqui Lambie’s sacked minder and office manager have grilled a current staffer in court, asking why she wrote them friendly birthday cards “if it was so awful to work with us”.

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BIRTHDAY greetings, smiling team photos and a “monkey card” emblazoned with well-wishes have been exhumed as evidence by two of Jacqui Lambie’s former chief staffers who say they were unfairly given the boot.

Rob and Fern Messenger, who are self-represented in an ongoing Federal Court stoush, say they were unfairly dismissed in May 2017 after Mr Messenger complained about the Senator’s “excessive alcohol consumption and behaviours”.

But on Thursday – day nine of the hearing – Ms Lambie’s current electorate officer Tammy Tyrrell gave evidence that the pair was sacked after staff told the Senator the Messengers subjected them to bullying, ill-treatment, and mismanagement.

“(Staff members) weren’t feeling valued and respected in the office, and that we felt like we were not being 100 per cent honest with Jacqui and that we were being led and directed by Rob and Fern, not by Jacqui as our employer,” Ms Tyrrell said.

“We were getting to the point where we didn’t want to be there.”

Rob Messenger and his wife Fern.

Ms Tyrrell said until that point, Ms Lambie had been reliant on the Messengers and was unaware of staff concerns.

“Basically she said ‘you’re s...tting me’,” Ms Tyrell said.

“She had a look of amazement on her face … she said ‘why didn’t you tell me, how long has this been going on?”

Ms Tyrrell also said a letter of complaint the Messengers sent to the Prime Minister in 2017 about the Senator was a significant breach of trust, and pointed to a “breakdown in relationship” between Ms Lambie and the Messengers as leading to their termination.

Also on Thursday, the Messengers revealed the well-wishes contained inside birthday cards from their former colleagues.

Mrs Messenger asked Ms Tyrrell, “if it was so awful to work with us”, why she would write “happy birthday lovely”, “kiss, hug Tam” and “you have become an important part of my world” in the cards.

The married couple also discussed a “monkey card” staff gave Mr Messenger in October 2016, in which Ms Tyrrell wrote “happy birthday Rob, hope you have a great day, you deserve it xoxo”.

Senator Jacqui Lambie in the Senate Chamber in Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Gary Ramage

“While you were wishing me happy birthday, you were having meetings with other staff who appeared on that birthday card and you were discussing my faults as a boss?” Mr Messenger asked.

“Yes,” Ms Tyrrell replied.

Mr Messenger also claimed that Ms Lambie was a “hard arse” who could not be deterred from her goals or told “no”.

“Because we said no to Senator Lambie, she decided to terminate our employment,” he said.

The Messengers claim they were given a show-cause letter and were on sick leave – but still employed – when Ms Tyrrell asked them to return workplace belongings.

Ms Tyrrell said a fellow employee alleged Mrs Messenger returned to the office during her time on sick leave and shredded documents in a secure shred bin.

The hearing, which is being held via video link before Justice John Snaden, continues.

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