The chief of staff to the deputy prime minister has claimed she was forced out of her job after she raised a bullying complaint against colleagues in her office.

Jo Tarnawsky, a career public servant, remains employed as Richard Marles’ chief of staff but said she has not been able to enter her office without notice since June and that she hasn’t seen or heard from the minister for months.

She has not accused Mr Marles of bullying but claimed that she has been “bullied out of her job”. 

“No fair process has been followed. I continue to be employed officially as the deputy prime minister’s chief of staff, but I have been prevented from doing my job,” she told reporters after calling a media conference, where she did not take questions herself.

“I know it won’t be long now before I am bullied out of this place completely.”

She was accompanied at the media conference by Michael Bradley from Marque Lawyers who described her as “effectively a messenger that’s been shot” but added that they were not anticipating litigation. 

Ms Tarnawsky alleges that in late April she raised private concerns “about some bullying behaviour within the office” with Mr Marles as they travelled back from a trip to Ukraine.

After arriving back in Australia she said Mr Marles made it clear that she should “start looking for alternative employment” in response to the concerns that had been raised and demanded she take “several weeks” of leave.

When she tried to return to work in June, she alleges the prime minister’s chief of staff told her she could not return to her role or her office.

“The events of the last five months have been devastating — cut off from my job and ostracised without warning,” she said.

“I have been plagued with nightmares, flashbacks, symptoms of depression and anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts. I had none of these symptoms before May 2024.

“The way I have been treated has been cowardly, cruel and completely unnecessary.”

Neither Ms Tarnawsky nor her lawyer provided details on the nature of the bullying complaint she made against her colleagues.

A spokesperson for Mr Marles — who is currently acting as prime minister — said in a statement that “a number of the assertions and recollections are contested”.

“Ms Tarnawsky has been treated with respect and courtesy,” they said.

“At all times, the wellbeing of staff, including Ms Tarnawsky has been front of mind. Out of respect for Ms Tarnawsky, and the prospect of legal proceedings, it is not appropriate to make further comment.

“The Albanese government is committed to improving workplace behaviour and culture at Parliament House.”

When asked about the allegations by the Coalition in Question Time, Mr Marles said he was satisfied he had complied with the ministerial code of conduct. 

He added that he had known Ms Tarnawsky for a long time and that she is a “wonderful person” who had given him “great service”.

“Given all of that, to state the obvious, in this moment I feel very sad that events have got to where they have,” he said.

“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.”

Given that the matter was “now in the hands of lawyers” Mr Marles said it was difficult for him to comment further but did confirm that he had been working with the Prime Minister’s Office for months regarding the matter. 

‘I want people to know the truth’: staffer

Since being unable to fulfil her duties, Ms Tarnawsky said she has been completing interim work with the Prime Minister’s Office to “support and mentor” other chiefs of staff.

She claimed that this showed she was not a security risk and “there are no genuine concerns about my performance or behaviour”.

The staffer said she had refused to hand over the code to a safe in her office on national security grounds, as it held “tightly-controlled documents that I am personally responsible for”.

Mr Bradley, her lawyer, was questioned by reporters about whether bullying allegations had also been levelled against Ms Tarnawsky. He said that “no such concerns have been raised with her at any point”. 

Ms Tarnawsky has known the deputy prime minister for over a decade, after an earlier stint as his chief of staff in 2012 and 2013.

She said she decided to go public with her allegations after her mental health deteriorated and her daughter convinced her to come forward.

“When I was in a completely broken state a few weeks ago, she said: ‘Mum, maybe if you told people the truth, maybe someone might help you’,” she said. 

“Bullying thrives in an environment of silence … by speaking out today, perhaps it will also help others.

“What I want is for people to know the truth and for Richard Marles, as well as those who have enabled his behaviour, to be held accountable for what has happened.”

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said on 2GB that Ms Tarnawsky’s story was “very concerning”.

“I think she is incredibly brave and she’s obviously a person who is well accomplished,” he said.