Social activist Sally Rugg crowed online about landing her job as chief-of-staff to teal independent MP Dr Monique Ryan – but is now suing her for working her too hard.
The former GetUp! and Change.org campaigner was appointed as the MP’s chief-of-staff after Dr Ryan defeated then-treasurer Josh Frydenberg for the ritzy Melbourne seat of Kooyong in May’s federal election.
In August, Ms Rugg took to Twitter to brag: ‘I love my new job so much omg.’
Two weeks earlier she had posted with a blushing smiling emoji: ‘Best first-week-of-a-new-job ever.’
But she is now suing her boss in the Federal Court after Dr Ryan allegedly tried to sack Ms Rugg for refusing to work ‘additional hours that were unreasonable’.
Social activist Sally Rugg (pictured with her partner, ABC comedian Kate McCartney) had crowed online about landing her new job as chief-of-staff to teal independent MP Dr Monique Ryan – but is now suing her just months later
In August, Ms Rugg took to Twitter to brag: ‘I love my new job so much omg’
Marriage equality campaigner Ms Rugg – whose partner is ABC TV comedian Kate McCartney – claims Dr Ryan breached general protections under the Fair Work Act.
Court documents filed on Wednesday reveal Ms Rugg is seeking a final injunction preventing the termination of her employment.
The lawsuit claims her sacking would contravene Section 340 of the Fair Work Act.
The Fair Work Act is designed to protect workers from ‘harmful (adverse) action, coercion, undue influence, or pressure and/or misrepresentation, where they affect workers’ rights.’
The court documents add that Ms Rugg ‘has exercised a workplace right…to refuse to work additional hours that were unreasonable’.
Sally Rugg (pictured right) is renowned for her star-pulling power and posted a picture on social media three weeks ago with ABC personalities including journalists Annabel Crabb (fourth from left ) and Louise Milligan (left)
Ms Rugg is now being trolled on social media for her August 13 tweet.
‘This aged perfectly,’ said one commenter, while another asked Ms Rugg whether she loved her job ‘so much that you’re suing her?’
Another added: ‘Not so much now, hey?’
Other commenters said they hoped the pair could resolve their differences and return to working together.
‘I thought you two were the dream team, smart capable women with a passion for improving society,’ posted one fan.
‘I do hope this is just a technical issue that can be sorted. You are both so admired by so many people and are an inspiration and example to ambitious young women.’
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Sally Rugg is being trolled on social media for the August tweet, while other commenters are more supportive (tweets pictured)
Ms Rugg is renowned for her star-pulling power and was pictured on social media with leading ABC personalities, including journalists Annabel Crabb and Louise Milligan three weeks ago.
The lawsuit has set Canberra alight with gossip and speculation surrounding the reasons behind it, but new court rules outlawed further details being revealed.
However media organisations successfully fought on Tuesday for the court documents to now be made public.
‘We are thrilled to welcome her to Team Mon,’ Dr Ryan, a former GP, wrote on her website at the time of recruiting Ms Rugg.
Teal independent MP Dr Monique Ryan (pictured) is being sued in the Federal Court by her social activist chief-of-staff for allegedly breaching workplace laws
Dr Ryan hired the former GetUp! campaigner as her top staffer after unseating then-treasurer Josh Frydenburg (pictured) in the Melbourne seat of Kooyong at May’s election
She hailed Ms Rugg as ‘an outstanding all-rounder with excellent leadership experience, a proven track record of effective policy advocacy, and high-level strategic communications skills’.
Ms Rugg said at the time she was ‘obviously’ drawn to working with the independent MP because of her policies on climate change, gender equity, integrity and transparency in politics.
However, on January 25, Ms Rugg’s solicitors Maurice Blackburn filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court alleging Dr Ryan’s breach of workplace laws.
It is understood Melbourne-based Ms Rugg is still currently employed by Dr Ryan.
But a media report at the weekend noted that Ms Rugg – who calls herself ‘Australia’s 11th favourite lesbian’ – had ‘proved not quite a comfortable fit with Kooyong’.
Nina O’Connor, a former campaign chief for Climate 200 – the environmental pressure group backing teal candidates, convened and bankrolled by Simon Holmes a Court – is believed to have replaced Ms Rugg as Dr Ryan’s chief-of-staff.
Marriage equality campaigner Sally Rugg (pictured) – whose partner is ABC TV comedian Kate McCartney – claims Dr Ryan breached general protections under the Fair Work Act
Marriage equality campaigner Sally Rugg got engaged to her ABC comedian partner Kate McCartney (both pictured) on New Year’s Day 2022
The case will initially come before court on Friday, February 3.
Ms Rugg previously launched a Gofundme to bankroll reporter Tegan George’s legal fight against Channel Ten over her alleged treatment at the Canberra bureau under political editor Peter Van Onselen. She shares the same law firm as Ms George.
Ms Rugg’s solicitors declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. Dr Ryan’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
