Workplace culture at parliament house is again under scrutiny with the Deputy Prime Minister's most senior member of staff claiming she was forced out of her dream job after being bullied at work. Richard Marles' long-time colleague and confidant says she was effectively sidelined after raising concerns about some staff members with him. But the Deputy Prime Minister insists her welfare was a priority as he tried to manage the dispute.
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TVTranscript
00:00Hello, I'm Jo Tenoske, I'm the Chief of Staff.
00:05Trusted to meet with foreign leaders and let in on the most sensitive discussions, but
00:10today speaking out.
00:12I am the most senior female Chief of Staff on the Hill and my workplace is not safe.
00:18With a lawyer by her side alleging she was bullied out of her job.
00:23Jo Tenoske says on her way home from this trip to Ukraine earlier this year, she raised
00:28concerns with Richard Miles about office bullying, not by him, but her own staff.
00:34When she raised that concern, his response was to take her job away from her.
00:39Not technically sacked, but shifted to another role, she says her access to the office has
00:44been restricted and she hasn't heard from him for months.
00:48The way that I have been treated has been cowardly, cruel and completely unnecessary.
00:55Not detailing the specific bullying allegations or what she wants, other than accountability
01:01from those involved.
01:02I have been plagued with nightmares, flashbacks, symptoms of depression and anxiety, panic
01:09attacks and suicidal thoughts.
01:12Responding in a statement, a spokesperson for Mr Miles says a number of the assertions
01:17and recollections are contested, before the Minister answered questions in the chamber.
01:22The way in which I've tried to manage this, I have done so with Jo's welfare in mind at
01:29every moment.
01:30New procedures have been put in place in this unique workplace to deal with claims of bullying
01:35and harassment.
01:36Though this case would seem to show that dealing with contested allegations isn't always straightforward,
01:43especially when they play out in public.