Richard Marles’ chief of staff Jo Tarnawsky launches legal action over claims she was forced out of her job after raising bullying complaint

The deputy prime minister’s chief of staff is suing the government over claims she was forced to resign after filing a harassment complaint.

Jo Tarnawsky has filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court against the federal government, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, claiming ‘adverse action’ under the Fair Work Act.

Her lawyer, Michael Bradley, told Daily Mail Australia she was “frozen out” of her job after filing the complaint on April 29.

“She sent Marles a message while they were on a plane flying back from a trip to Europe. He responded positively and said they would talk the next day, but the next day he actually beat her up.

“The deputy prime minister told her he didn’t want her to work for him anymore and from then on she was frozen.”

As of April 30, Mr. Marles was denied access to her office, and her personal belongings are still there, Bradley said.

She has not suggested that Mr. Marles bullied her.

Ms. Tarnawsky is still serving in her role on miscellaneous leave, but she was “effectively removed” and an acting chief of staff has been serving since May, Bradley said.

He said she was exercising workplace justice when she made the bullying complaint and that Marles allegedly forcing her out of her role was an ‘adverse action’, unlawful under the Fair Work Act.

In a statement from Parliament House, Ms Tarnawsky told reporters she was not aware of any investigation into the alleged bullying she reported.

“It has now been more than 200 days since I raised my concerns privately with the Deputy Prime Minister about bullying behavior in his office,” she said.

‘That got me banned. My workplace situation is still not resolved. Not a single member of the government has reached out to check on my well-being.

“After introducing parliamentary workplace reforms, the government is testing in real time what it can get away with.”

The allegations come after the government passed legislation establishing a new, independent body to crack down on bad behavior in parliament.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission (IPSC) launched on October 1.

Mr Marles was forced to address the allegations during Question Time last month, when coalition member Sussan Ley asked whether he felt he had met his ministerial obligations to maintain a safe and respectful workplace.

Jo Tarnawsky has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the federal government, the deputy prime minister and the prime minister’s chief of staff.

The House of Representatives fell silent as he struggled through his response, telling the House: “To state the obvious, right now I feel very sad that events have gotten to where they are.”

‘It is of course very difficult.

‘Let me say that in the way I have tried to manage this, I have done so with Jo’s welfare in mind at every stage as I would try to manage things on that basis for all my staff.’

Mr Marles said he admired Ms Tarnawsky for her commitment to social justice and described her as an “amazing person”.

He added: ‘As is clear, this matter is now in the hands of lawyers – of course Jo is absolutely right, but it does mean it is difficult for me to say more about this.’