Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles revealed that his female media director meant 'so much more' for him 'for him than' only an important staff member ', according to a plague claim in the workplace that the federal parliament floods.
Mr. Marles's staff chef Jo Tonywsky claims that she was being bullied, belittled and ignored by the media chef Kate Hanns of Mr. Marles in a continuous campaign of intimidation.
Mrs. Tonysky has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, Mr. Marles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanian Staff Chef Tim Gartrell, claiming that she was subjected to 'adverse action' under the Fair Work Act.
The former diplomat claims that Mr Marles removed her from her job of $ 270,000 after she complained about Mrs Hanns at the end of April last year.
Mrs. Tarnawsky's statement claims that Mrs. Hanns bullied and harassed her of May last year and froze her from the office culture.
She claims that she was denied access to Mr. Marles' diary, removed from team -e -mails and that 'her dog photos were removed from the shared pets wall of the office'.
Mrs. Tonywsky says she was being treated in 'a abrasive, hostile and exclusive way' and from May last year Mrs. Hanns was subjected to an 'escalating course'.
The case went before the federal court before a hearing of case management on 18 February after weeks of mediation had not reached an AA arrangement.
A phone call in which Vice Prime Minister Richard Marles reportedly said that his media director Kate Hanns (above) meant 'so much more' for him than 'only an important staff member' characteristics in a workplace claim that floods the federal parliament
Justice Yaseen Shariff heard that Mrs. Tarnawsky was left 'in the dark' and 'considerably more unwell' became the claim by the court.
The statement by Mrs. Tamewsky, released by the court, refers to Mr Marles who makes a phone call at 11.11 am on 30 April on 30 April using the encrypted signal communication -app.
During that call, Mrs. Tonywsky says that she told Mr. Marles that she had tried to manage the alleged bullying and intimidation alone, but now sought his help.
In response, Mrs. Tarnawsky claims that the acting Prime Minister once told her that Mrs. Hanns meant so much more for Marles than just an important staff member '.
Mrs. Tonywsky also claims that Mr. Marles said that he did not consider her alleged experiences with bullying and intimidation to 'repair'.
She further claims that Mr Marles told her: “There had been problems with or related to Mrs. Tarnawsky for” more than a year “, and he immediately wanted to” finish “with the problem”.
“Mrs. Tarnawsky would not travel to Hawaii with Mr. Marles during an official visit, for which she would leave the next day, was May 1, 2024,” claims the statement of claim.
'Mrs. Tarnawsky was' not undertaken', but was instructed to take an immediate break from work and to find alternative work; And Mrs. Tarnawsky could leave the role “with dignity” and after having taken the time to find a suitable job. '
Jo Tonnewsky (above) has brought a lawsuit of the federal court against Mr Marles and the Prime Minister's staff and claims that she was subject to 'adverse action' under the Fair Work Act
During the same conversation, Mrs. Tarnawsky says she told Mr. Marles that she would try to find work outside his office, but if that was not possible, she would return to her role.
In his defense, Mr. Marles Mrs. Tonywsky's version of that conversation states 'vague and embarrassing' and can be made out of her claim.
'[Mr Marles] expressed his concern about continuous interpersonal issues between [Ms Tarnawsky] And other staff in his office, “his defense is.
'[Ms Tarnawsky] said she thought she could repair her relationship with the staff, except for the relationship with Mrs. Hanns, who, according to her, was irreparable.
'[Mr Marles] told [Ms Tarnaswky] That he would not make a choice that led to Mrs. Hanns no longer remained his media director, given the value she had provided to his office.
“He considered her the best media officer in the Parliament House.”
Mr. Marles further states that he did not see Mrs Hanns participate in an 'escalating course of behavior' of which Mrs. Tarnawsky claims that it amounted to bullying and intimidation.
From about mid -2023 he had 'feelings that there were some tensions that developed in his office' between Mrs. Tarnawksy and members of his staff, including Mrs. Hanns.
Mrs. Tonywsky was appointed chief advisor of Mr. Marles in June 2022 after she tells her told her: 'Jo, you are as a family. You know me. You know what I need to run an office. You know the government. '
Mrs. Tonywsky, a former diplomat, claims that Mr Marles removed her from her $ 270,000 job after she complained about Mrs. Hanns seven months ago. Mr Marles and Mrs. Hanns are circled
Mrs Hanns has been working for Mr Marles since 2019 when the Alp was in opposition and before that the staff of Labor MP, now Minister of Social Services, Amanda Rishworth.
Her first political job was as a media consultant of former Labor MP David Feeney in 2014. She previously worked for 21st Century Fox and Southern Cross Austereo.
Mrs. Hanns is not the only person Mrs. Tonywsky accusations of bullying and intimidation, but was 'primarily responsible', according to her claim statement.
The claim states that Mrs. Tarnaswky has received 'regular praise for her high performance' in her role and 'received no negative performance assessments or feedback'.
Mrs. Tonywsky's lawyer Michael Bradley, from Marque Lawyers, told Daily Mail Australia that his client was 'frozen' of her work after complaining to Mr. Marles.
The staff chef had traveled to the VAE, Turkey, Poland and Ukraine at the end of April with her boss and other staff.
During that journey, Mrs. Tonywsky claims that she was subjected to 'a continuous course of Mrs. Hanns and other employees' who amounted to bullying and intimidation'.
In her statement from Claim, Mrs. Tonywsky says she sent a signal report to Mr. Marles while she flew home to Australia on or around 27 April and reported a plague incident.
She claims that on April 29, Mr Marles with the staff chief of Mr. Albanese, Tim Gartrell, spoke and informed him that he no longer wanted her in his office.
Mr. Marles and Mr. Gartrell, who are not accused of bullying, say they had a conversation that evening, but refuse the version of Mrs. Tarnawsky of what was said.
Mr Brandley said from April 30, Mrs. Tonywsky was denied access to her office and that her personal belongings were still there.
Jo Tonnewsky, Staff Chef of Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, claims that the media director of her boss Kate Hanns (above) has ignored her and belittles her in their workplace
She was still working on 'various leave' but was 'effectively removed' and replaced by an acting staff chef, said Mrs. Bradley.
Mr. Bradley said that Mrs. Tonywsky performed a workplace when she submitted the plague complaint and Mr Marles reportedly forced her from her role, was 'adverse action', illegal under the Fair Work Act.
Mrs. Tonywsky, who on November 25, a declaration of episode in parliament house episode, reported reporters that she was not aware of any investigation that had been made into the alleged bullying.
“It is now more than 200 days since I have brought my concern privately with the Deputy Prime Minister about bullying behavior in his office,” she said.
“I was then banned. My workplace situation remains unsolved. No member of the government has contacted to check my well -being.
“After the window dressing of parliamentary reforms has been introduced in the workplace, the government tests in real time with which it can get away.”
Mrs. Tonywsky, who is not looking for non -specific damage, claims that she has suffered a financial loss, including medical accounts, as well as continued pain, humiliation and reputation damage.
The allegations come after the government has adopted legislation that founded a new independent body to resolve in parliament against bad behavior.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission (IPSC) started on October 1.
Mr. Marles was forced to tackle the allegations during the questions in November, when Coalition MP Sussan Ley asked if he had the feeling that he had met his ministerial obligations to maintain a safe and respectful workplace.
The House of Representatives fell silent when he struggled through his answer and said the room: “To mention it obvious, I feel very sad at the moment that events have come where they are.”
“It is clearly very difficult.
“Let me say that I did this in the way I tried this with the well -being of Jo at any time, because I would try to manage things on that basis for all my employees.”
Mr. Marles said he admired Mrs. Tonywsky's dedication to social justice and described her as a 'great person.
He added: “As is clear, this issue is now in the hands of lawyers – of course that is absolutely Jo's right, but it does mean that it is difficult for me to say something more about this.”
Mrs. Tonywsky is the oldest female political staff member in the government. Her case returns to the court on 27 February.
