Monique Ryan's chief of staff will not be able to work for the independent MP while she sues her, after a judge dismissed her attempts to avoid termination.
Political staffer Sally Rugg had applied to the Federal Court for an urgent injunction to stop the teal MP from ending her employment, after lawyers allege she pushed her into resigning.
She wanted to continue working as an adviser, undertaking policy and media work for the federal MP for Kooyong.
READ MORE: Search for two men after hold up at service station in Melbourne's west
However, Justice Debra Mortimer dismissed her interlocutory application on Tuesday morning.
She ordered for a timetable to be agreed to by both parties for when the matter will head to trial, and said a case management hearing should be held before March 20.
Ms Rugg has lodged an unfair dismissal claim against the MP and the Commonwealth, which includes allegations she was asked to work more than 70 hours a week on a salary of $166,000.
At a hearing on Friday, Dr Ryan and the Commonwealth both argued against Ms Rugg keeping her job, saying their relationship had broken down and likening the legal fight to "trench warfare".
The MP disputes Ms Rugg's claims that she dismissed her, effective January 31, after she refused to work unreasonable hours for the member for Kooyong.
Ms Rugg is seeking compensation and pecuniary penalties from both parties, and has added serious contraventions of the Fair Work Act against the Commonwealth to her dispute.
Justice Mortimer will publish her reasons later today.
Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.
Source link
