Rugg launched action against the Commonwealth and Ryan late last month,alleging she was dismissed from her job as Ryan’s chief of staff for exercising her right to refuse to work unreasonable,additional hours.
“Ms Rugg will seek to add claims of ‘serious contraventions’ of the Fair Work Act against the Commonwealth. A serious contravention occurs where the breach of labour standards is knowing and systematic. The penalty for serious contraventions is a maximum of $660,000.00,” Bornstein said in a statement.
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“The serious contravention claim is made in circumstances in which Dr Ryan publicly acknowledged that her staff were working 70-hour weeks and that it was not safe.”
The Commonwealth and Ryan deny these allegations and are defending the claim.
Ryan said during an interview withThe Australian in October that she was considering fundraising for extra staff as some staff were working more than 70 hours a week.
“It’s not healthy. I think it’s only a matter of time before we have a poor outcome with one of our staff members,” she said in comments made against the backdrop of the Albanese governmentslashing the staff allocation for independent MPs from four to one.