This story contains reference to suicidal thoughts.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has defended his actions following allegations raised by his most senior staff member about bullying in his office.
Jo Tarnawsky, Marles' chief of staff, alleges she has been blocked from doing her job after she claims she raised bullying allegations with her boss.
Tarnawsky has not claimed that Richard Marles perpetrated the alleged bullying
She claims she has been barred from entering her office without giving notice and says she has been moved to work on a temporary project with the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's office for several months.
Richard Marles' chief of staff Jo Tarnawsky. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
"In this moment, I feel very sad that events have got to where they have," Marles told the House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon.
"This is obviously very difficult. Let me say that in the way in which I have tried to manage this, I have done so with Jo's welfare in mind at every moment as I would try to manage things on that basis for all of my staff.
"As is evident, this matter is now in the hands of lawyers, and of course that is absolutely Jo's right. But it does mean that it is difficult for me to say anything more on this issue."
Jo Tarnawsky said she worked as Richard Marles chief of staff in 2012 and 2013, and began work for him again in 2022 after Labor won the federal election. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
"The acting prime minister has responded to this publicly, and due to the nature of it, I don't intend to add any further comment."
Tarnawsky claims she has been 'ostracised'
Tarnawsky first went public with her claims in a story published by The Guardian on Thursday, and later that morning addressed reporters at Parliament House.
She said the alleged behaviour has caused significant distress.
"The events of the last five months have been devastating, cut from my job and ostracised without warning," Tarnawsky told reporters on Thursday.
"People have been unaware of my real situation; I have been plagued with nightmares, flashbacks, symptoms of depression and anxiety, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts.
"I had none of these symptoms before May 2024."
Tarnawsky said she had previously worked as Marles chief of staff in 2012 and 2013, and had been asked to return after Labor won the 2022 federal election.
"It was a job I loved until May this year," Tarnawsky said.
Tarnawsky alleged she raised claims of bullying within the office during a flight home from Ukraine — where .
She claimed he acknowledged her concerns and said the pair should discuss them.
"However, when we returned to Australia, he called me," she said. "And in direct response to the concerns I had raised, he made it clear that I should start looking for alternative employment."
Michael Bradley, Jo Tarnawsky lawyer, said they were "not anticipating litigation". Source: Supplied
"I was shocked, but he assured me that I had not been stood down and that I would be treated with total dignity... but when I tried to return to work in June, it was left to the [Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's chief of staff to inform me that I could never return to my role or to the deputy prime minister's office," Tarnawsky claimed.
She claimed "no fair process" had been followed and that she was still employed as Marles' chief of staff but had "been prevented" from doing her job.
A spokesperson for Marles said "a number of the assertions and recollections are contested", although they did not specify which.
"Ms Tarnawsky has been treated with respect and courtesy," the spokesperson said in a statement.
"At all times, the wellbeing of staff, including Ms Tarnawsky has been front of mind."
'Not anticipating litigation': Tarnawsky's lawyer
Michael Bradley, Tarnawsky lawyer from the firm Marque Lawyers, told reporters the allegations related to "bullying behaviour and other inappropriate behaviour" among staff within the office but that did not include Marles.
However, Bradley said Tarnawsky "certainly" was alleging "that she had been bullied out of her job and that was at the call of the deputy prime minister".
"What we are saying is that she's been the victim of adverse action," he said. "Effectively, she's a messenger who has been shot".
Bradley said he and his client were "not anticipating litigation", and instead anticipated that "the government will take accountability for what it's done to Jo and resolve that problem".
Bradley said a parliament house support service, that was established following , had been engaged.
He was asked by a reporter if Tarnawsky had bullied any staff in the office in the lead up to her alleged effective sacking.
Bradley said: "No such concerns have been raised with her at any point".
Marles' spokesperson, when commenting that "a number" of Tarnawsky's "assertions and recollections are contested", also said the federal government was "committed to improving workplace behaviour and culture at Parliament House".
If allegations set out in this story raise issues for you, or you or someone you know needs support - you can seek help through Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. More information is available at .
Readers seeking crisis support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25).
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