Moves to settle the rancorous legal battle between Kooyong teal MP Monique Ryan and her high-profile chief of staff, Sally Rugg, have been blocked by the Commonwealth government, even though both women have sought to avoid a lengthy court trial.
The Commonwealth – which is also a party to the trial, and is accused of breaching the Fair Work Act by allowing a culture of excessive work – has not agreed to repeated offers to settle, the sources said. “I take difficult briefs and do what I can with them,” Aleksov said in response to questions about his exit from the case.The Coalition has seized on the case to suggest Ryan, who defeated Josh Frydenberg in the seat of Kooyong, may have defrauded the Commonwealth by asking Rugg to take five weeks’ pay in exchange for quietly resigning in an “off the books” proposal.
Rugg and Ryan may yet reach a settlement separate from the Commonwealth, an option that has been explored by Ryan’s lawyers and which could avert a trial. Liberal senator Andrew Bragg on Sunday raised questions about the way Ryan, whom the Coalition is desperate to defeat at the next election, handled Rugg’s departure.