The previous staffer ought to have been in a position to put ahead a Me Too defence, the fee dominated.
Labor MP Kristina Keneally acted in an “unnecessarily harsh” method in sacking former staffer Pierce Area with out giving him an opportunity to elucidate his Me Too motivations, the Honest Work Fee has dominated.
After 18 months working as an voters officer for Keneally, Area was fired in October final 12 months after he contacted senior former Liberal minister Craig Laundy, alleging Laundy had behaved inappropriately in direction of former NSW Liberal candidate Natalie Baini, who had beforehand been in a relationship with Laundy.
Honest Work Commissioner Ian Cambridge dominated that contacting Laundy with out Keneally’s approval was a “legitimate motive” for Area’s dismissal, though he ought to have been given a chance to defend himself. Area was awarded $1685 for 2 weeks’ value of misplaced wages, lowered by 50% on account of his misconduct.
