Teal MP Monique Ryan has been accused of trying to sack her chief of staff for refusing to work “unreasonable” hours.
The staffer, Sally Rugg, known as a leading advocate for marriage equality, is suing her boss and the Commonwealth for an alleged breach of the Fair Work Act’s “general protections” provisions.
Documents lodged with the Federal Court show Rugg is seeking to prevent Ryan from sacking her after a dispute about working hours.
Rugg, who has only been in the role for about six months, claims the Commonwealth denied her right to refuse to work “additional hours that were unreasonable” and engaged in “hostile conduct in the workplace”.
The sacking would have taken effect today, but Rugg is calling for an injunction to prevent her employment from being terminated.
In the court documents, Rugg alleges Ryan was the “principal actor” in the allegations.
Ryan, an independent, was elected to the Victorian seat of Kooyong — previously held by former treasurer Josh Frydenberg — in 2022.
Rugg told The Sydney Morning Herald last year she had been drawn to Ryan after witnessing an impressive debate against Frydenberg: “What drew me to Monique was obviously the policy priorities — climate change, gender equity, integrity and transparency in politics — but also her approach as a grassroots, community-connected independent.”
The application was filed on January 25, and the first hearing in the case has been set for Thursday.
Ryan’s office declined to comment, as did lawyers representing both sides.
We don’t yet have enough information to form our own opinions about this. In the meantime here are some thoughts. Doctors (like Ryan) often work long hours so maybe they are not always sympathetic to employees. Albanese cut the staff numbers for the independents which would affect workload. The Commonwealth as an employer has a long history of expecting long hours stemming from “efficiency dividends”. Perhaps it is about time somebody sued.
Notwithstanding the above, I am yet to form an opinion. But I do intend to follow the case with interest.
Beautifully summed up.
Call me a suspicious cynic but I note the Commonwealth of Australia is also a defendant and I just wonder if this might be a put-up job / test case to pressure Albanese to provide more staff to the Independents, a cause I would support.
Yep, let’s see if Albanese folds like a cheap suit – again… Pretty transparent tactic from where I’m sitting.
Now that is a good point. If that’s the case, it’ll be the smartest political play in years, and we’re all mugs.
Is it that important that it should be a major headline on all Australian news sites ?
Takes the focus off Dom so yes
Some newspapers will run this story with their own particular spin because of the people involved. But how an MP runs their office is certainly newsworthy in my opinion – regardless of the political leanings of those involved.
Agree on both points. Anyone remember Jenkins’ review?
For those desperate to salvage the flotsam & jetsam from the Bad Ship Duopoly it is absolutely essential.
yes maybe Josh is ? Right up his alley and serves up an entree for his lust for power … oh..no ..not hkm agaeen
A political staffer, especially the chief of staff who would no doubt be on a salary way above the award and should remain at work until the boss retires for the day. If that is not possible, moving on without making a mess (in the courts) would be in everyone’s best interest.
A staffer should only work 40 hours per week for their base salary. Anything beyond that should be paid by the hour.
I believe under the MOPs Act, they are paid an annual lump sum as a catch-all for overtime, rather than by the hour.
can I get some of that piecework action…? does anyone else not think this conversation is perverse to its core?
does anyone else here work in the actual neoliberal economy these luxuriating, featherbedding pr*cks of the Knowledge Classes have shoved onto us these last bipartisan 30 years..???
am I the only mug?
May I assume that is a rhetorical question….
Laughing..so I don’t cry. What planet do you people inhabit?
Planet Privilege – note the soft hands and softer skulls.
Do you have any idea the kind of hours political staffers pull?
It’s one of the most brutal white-collar jobs around.
I guess this is part of an adjustment to the system. The staffers of political parties, as far as I can tell, are looking for an eventual job as a MP or Senator, or are not much more than devotees of a political cult. They are probably prepared to tolerate an awful lot more than even the most dedicated staffer who isn’t working under cult member conditions.
Also, let’s not forget the Jenkins Report. Rugg may very well be considering her position within a broader framework of improving the working conditions in Parliament House and its associated work spaces. She is, after all, an activist.
Yes, Woke. Because a job as CoS for a newly-elected female Teal MP is sheer hell on earth. The horror! The horror…
Hey, Knowledge Class elite: reckon you all might spare some time, thoughts and resources for the workplace conditions of peeps who don’t work in your rarified realms? Asking for a friend on $22.81/hour, split night shifts, wiping arses, no hols, sick leave, mileage or complaint avenues.
Good grief.
get those Drum Consultant coterie to stop supporting the middle men with their fingers in tge NDIS, property council, arts events…. give the support to individual participants – they can get real jobs
Better that we give all the “Public Servants” the boot and they can get real jobs. If they can.
You’re sh*tting me. Seriously????
..you seriously regard working for an MP as a ‘brutal’ white collar job? (is there even such a thing?) ..
“Indoor work, no heavy lifting & a 6 figure salary” – where can I get me some o’ that?
Many former and current “public servants” seem to think so!
No worse than any serious Executive role in the Private Sector. The pay is not the issue (she accepted it). It’s what is considered “reasonable” overtime and the alleged “hostile conduct” in the workplace that is the issue.
‘reasonable overtime’…in my book, anyone on six figures plus does not get to watch the clock at all.
what planet do these people live on?
6 figures is SFA these days.
not if you’re a carer, a counsellor, a retail worker, a cleaner, a labourer…
Don’t disagree however I was only referring to the remuneration itself, not the role. In Western society, you are paid according to the value the market places on those roles.
On which basis, Arnie is the greatest actor ever.
Ignoring that this is a circular argument, it’s important to acknowledge that in western society, many, many people are paid far more than the market would value their roles.
(Much to the chagrin of libertarians and other sociopathic “free market” types.)
Because that is a consequence of laws that have been implemented to construct and maintain what we like to refer to as “civilised society”.
“The market” is a product of, and subservient to, the law which can – and should, but does not often enough – step in to address issues of exploitation and inequality.
Have you ever worked for yourself? Have you ever occupied any Executive position where you effectively don’t have a life other than work and you are only as good as your last win or loss? Have you ever had staff that are quite entitled to a work/life balance yet you are not?
Again, the remuneration is irrelevant. It’s about what is “reasonable overtime” and what consists of a “hostile work environment”.
LOL.
I’ve known many execs, and not one of them as ever had any trouble finding more work, regardless of their track record.
A single parent working a few part time jobs not only has no life other than work, and vastly more serious consequences to deal with, but likely barely earns enough to survive, let alone for the flashy lifestyle perks a high-earning exec gets (before even considering the ones that are “part of the job”).
So maybe leave the sanctimonious “they work so hard” at the door. Lots of people work really ****ing hard for not a lot.
Yes. That’s what the aforementioned laws are for.
Not just Execs. Have YOU ever worked for yourself? I would posit the answer to that is a big, fat NO.
As for sanctimoniousness, yes by all means leave your sanctimonious disdain of anyone that has actually gotten off their *rse, gone to Uni and dared to earn more than you, at home or at whatever public service job you probably work at.
Again, it’s not about the remuneration she receives, it’s about “reasonable hours” and “hostile actions”.
That’s certainly an… interesting… take on what I wrote.
Yes, I know. It’s Jack you need to be arguing with about that.
AWOTE sits around 90K and the average of all emoyees is around $70K.
sez the spokesbot for the Sanctimony Freeloaders Association.
Again, the market decides how your role is valued and consequently, how you are paid. If you are not prepared to do what is necessary to improve your income, then don’t complain. Take risks and earn what you are worth (although most can’t live on that).
If you want a secure “job”, join the Public Service. You trade a higher income for job security. I note that many of the comments in another article degrade Police, Prison Officers etc and I find this amusing as they are members of the sainted Public Service.
There are many occupations that should be paid more however the market simply doesn’t value these at higher rates of pay.
‘the market’?
not in taxpayer funded jobs. remuneration tends to be a self-serving KC circle-jerk, in which ‘the market’ is waved vaguely as bout as a theoretical benchmark for ‘talent’…without any any of the risk, dynamic uncertainty and especially hard-outcome accountability that said ‘market’ ALSO imposes on high private sector say.
Rugg is a perfect example. Six months into a dream job, high-paid, amazing opportunities…and she’s calling it quits with zero runs on the board, demanding component – from us taxpayers, natch – as she goes. She’ll likely get it, too, because that’ll be easier for everyone at Parly House.
KC Moral hazard with OUR money, as always. ‘The market’ has f-all to do with it.
‘compo’ not ‘component’ apols
When you don’t have an axe to grind, what this situation screams out is “toxic workplace” and “terrible boss”.
Axe to grind?
Seriously, Smithy, take a step back from your own rusted-on presumptions and ask yourself: Is Dr Ryan truly likely to be a ‘terrible’ boss??? Is a brand new Teal MP – elected not least on the basis of rejecting the (alleged) ‘toxicity’ of PH – going to be inculcating/perpetuating one herself already?!?!
You’re taking the p*ss too, shorely. Chrs.
LOL. Undoubtedly written without a hint of irony.
They are free to leave “public service” and obtain a role in the Private Sector at any time. Again, it’s not about the remuneration, it’s about “reasonable hours” and “hostile actions”.
As you’ve demonstrated, the concept of ‘doing good’ has zero market value, to some.
Not that long ago, decent people worked themselves to a frazzle for community benefit – including politics, unbelievable as that now seems – because it was the decent thing to do.
None thought that it would be anything other than hard graft, long hours, usually being abused into the bargain, paying costs out of their own pockets and often to their own detriment, which led to so much burnout that it’s little wonder that the idea is now considered quaint and foolish – far better to be a quid chaser.
I’m not saying that it’s right, I’m saying it’s the way things are. Realpolitik trumps “I wish” everytime.
Australians are a strange bunch. They all want a “work/life balance”, high wages for whatever job they choose, yet cheap goods and services, low interest rates and increasing property values and unfortunately, that is pure fantasy in a free-market, Capitalist society. Everything is a tradeoff in life.
Mine heart breaketh not – it is about public service, not personal gain or just another goof-off, 9-5 CV padder.
What you are describing is the entirety of the “Public Service”.
aged care ?
From what the media has reported about her claim, it sounds like Dr Ryan is the sacrificial lamb in a case aimed at getting better work conditions for staffers. And she wants damages from Ryan and the Commonwealth. And she wants to keep her job with Ryan.
Whilst it’s a worthwhile cause, I think her methods are objectionable. And does she think any parliamentarian will want to employ her after this?
If Frydenberg contests Kooyong in 2025 and wins against a damaged Ryan, I’d imagine he, the Coalition and the Merdochs will be happy to give Gunn whatever she wants? The Teals certainly made a lot of enemies by daring to take on the status quo.
Wonder who is funding Rugg’s case?
Albo, if he’s smart.
Bet Rugg pops up in an ALP sinecure inside the next 12 months!
look at me, all lefty-conspiracy-cynical! crikey is bad for one’s soul! 🙂