Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has spoken openly about allegations of bullying by his chief of staff, who he claims forced her to give up her dream job.
Marles’ top employee, Jo Tarnawsky, said during a news conference Thursday that she loved her job before May. when she privately raised her concerns about bullying with her boss.
“During the return flight from an official trip to Ukraine at the end of April, I privately raised concerns with the Deputy Prime Minister about some bullying behavior within the office,” he told reporters.
He said Marles acknowledged his concerns and promised to address them.
“However, when we returned to Australia, he called me and, in direct response to the concerns I had raised, made it clear that I should start looking for alternative employment,” he said.
‘Any of my attempts to resolve the issue or discuss it in person were rebuffed. He demanded that I take several weeks of leave immediately.
Marles was forced to address the allegations during question time on Thursday when coalition MP Sussan Ley asked him if he felt he had fulfilled his ministerial obligations to maintain a safe and respectful workplace.
The House of Representatives fell into a stony silence as he struggled to give his response, telling the chamber: “To state the obvious, at this moment, I feel very sad that events have come to where they are.”
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles pictured during Question Time on Thursday
Richard Marles’ chief of staff Jo Tarnawsky pictured during her press conference in Parliament on Thursday.
‘Obviously it’s very difficult.
“Let me say that in the way I have tried to manage this, I have done so with Jo’s wellbeing in mind at all times as I would try to manage things on that basis for all my staff.”
Marles said he admired Tarnawsky for her commitment to social justice and described her as a “wonderful person.”
He added: “As is evident, this matter is now in the hands of lawyers – of course Jo has every right, but that means it is difficult for me to say anything more about it.”
Ley then asked when Marles first spoke to the Prime Minister about the harassment allegations.
He responded: ‘What I can say is that it is now clear, on the record, that we have been, I have been working with the Prime Minister’s Office for months regarding this matter, and the Prime Minister has been informed of this.’
During Tarnawsky’s news conference, her attorney Michael Bradley told reporters that Marles ultimately made the call to fire her.
“What happened was that Jo raised a legitimate concern about issues within the Deputy First Minister’s office, including bullying behaviour, and the response was to dismiss her from her job,” he said.
“She is like any worker in the country, she has the right to fair treatment, a fair procedure and her rights as an employee have not been respected.”
Ms Tarnawsky claimed she was forced to quit her “dramatic work” after raising bullying allegations with Mr Marles.
Tarnawsky said she had “been plagued by nightmares, flashbacks, symptoms of depression and anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts.”
“I did not have any of these symptoms before May 2024,” the senior official said.
“The way I have been treated has been cowardly, cruel and completely unnecessary.”
While she did not accuse Mr Marles of bullying her, she said she wanted him to be “held accountable”.
“What I want is for people to know the truth and for Richard Marles, as well as those who enabled his behaviour, to be held accountable for what happened,” Ms Tarnawsky said.
‘They are bullying me into leaving a job I loved and was doing well. It was a job I had dreamed of since I first visited Parliament as a child.
“I am now the highest-ranking chief of staff at the Capitol and my workplace is not safe.”
He called on Anthony Albanese to implement his government’s labor reforms.
Last month, the government passed legislation establishing a new independent body to crack down on bad behavior in parliament. It began operations on October 1.
