Aus Deputy PM Chief of Staff resigns due to bullying

News.com.au reports:

Richard Marles’ chief of staff says she is “being bullied out” of her dream job after reporting misbehaviour directly to the Deputy Prime Minister.

In a press conference on Thursday morning, Jo Tarnawsky said she “loved” her job working for Mr Marles, whom she had known for “more than 10 years”.

But she said everything changed in May when she raised concerns of bullying with her boss privately.

“During the flight home from an official trip to Ukraine in late April, I raised concerns privately with the Deputy Prime Minister about some bullying behaviour within the office,” she told reporters.

Ms Tarnawsky said she had “been plagued with nightmares, flashbacks, symptoms of depression and anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts”.

“I had none of these symptoms before May 2024,” the top staffer said. 

“The way I have been treated has been cowardly, cruel and completely unnecessary.”

It is unusual to have a chief of staff resign in this way. Things must be really bad for her to have done so.

Didn’t know much about Richard Marles, but found out he is the former Assistant Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, which will explain a lot. Union bosses are often the worst employers!