Deja vu

Stuff reports:

Independent MP Jami-Lee Ross has denied acting inappropriately with his staff and is alleging a “trial by media,” following a report published by Newsroom about his electorate office staff.

Ross told Stuff that his office involves “high pressure and stress at times”.

I’m sure it does!

Newsroom reported on Wednesday morning that Parliamentary Services was conducting an inquiry into misconduct allegations in Ross’ electorate office. The Newsroom report claimed the complaint involved bullying and had seen three of four staff in his Botany office placed on leave.

It is not unusual for an MP to fall out with an individual staffer. I can’t recall ever hearing of a situation where three out of four staff all had complaints/ that neccisitated them going on leave.

Ross went on to allege that his political adversaries – particularly his former colleagues in the National Party – had a hand in the story emerging in the press.

These are not staff from his time as a National MP. Those ones are all long gone. These are all new staff which he personally hired (or approved).