Lobbyist John-Paul Blandthorn has been sacked from prominent Labor-linked firm Hawker Britton, with the former senior government adviser denying allegations of bullying.
Blandthorn, the brother of Allan government minister Lizzie Blandthorn and a former adviser to ex-premier Daniel Andrews, toldJohn-Paul Blandthorn denies allegations of bullying.removed from its websiteTwo Hawker Britton sources, speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly, said staff were told at a meeting on Friday morning that Blandthorn was no longer working with the company.
They said the decision related to accusations of bullying and came after the firm was provided with a final report into internal-culture issues. The allegations against him are not of a sexual nature.Current and former staff were interviewed as part of the process, which also examined allegations staff had left the business because of issues relating to the internal culture.
One of the Hawker Britton sources said they did not believe that document named Blandthorn specifically.There is no suggestion that Blandthorn has engaged in bullying or misconduct, just that he is no longer working at the firm following the allegations.The Andrews government was forced to manage potential conflicts of interest in 2022 when Blandthorn’s sister was appointed planning minister.from projects involving her brother. She was moved to a different portfolio following the 2022 election.