Rob Messenger
Rob Messenger | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Leader of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Burnett | |
| In office 7 February 2004 – 24 March 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Trevor Strong |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Bennett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Desmond Messenger 26 October 1962 Commonwealth of Australia |
| Branch/service | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1978–1987 |
| Rank |  Corporal |
Robert Desmond Messenger (born 26 October 1962) is an Australian politician. He was a member of the
Political career
Messenger, who had worked as an electrician both in the
He was re-elected in 2006 with an additional swing of 4.7 per cent.[2]
Bundaberg Hospital Scandal
In 2005 Messenger was approached by Toni Hoffman, an experienced surgical nurse, distressed about one of the surgeons at the Bundaberg Base Hospital where she worked. She had previously consulted with hospital management with no success.
As a result of a long discussion with Hoffman, he named Jayant Patel under Parliamentary privilege. Messenger first raised the matter in Parliament on 22 March 2005, for the protection of patients at the Bundaberg Base Hospital intensive care unit and the wellbeing of the medical staff.[citation needed]
Shortly afterwards it was discovered by Courier Mail journalist Hedley Thomas that Patel had previously been charged with misconduct in the United States.
Patel's activities subsequently came into the public arena and he eventually became the central figure in the "Dr. Death" scandal which resulted in a
On 8 February 2007 Messenger was censured by the Queensland Parliament for a sarcastic comment made to the Premier over the scandal.[3]
Resignation from LNP to sit as an independent
In May 2010, Messenger and
Messenger has campaigned for a sex offenders register that would allow parents to protect their children from known sexual offenders.[7][8]
In June 2011, Messenger indicated interest in joining the newly formed
Messenger lost his seat at the 2012 state election to his former party.
Palmer United
In May 2013, Messenger joined the
Employment and termination in Senator Lambie’s office
Messenger was employed in Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie’s office between 1 July 2014 and 3 May 2017 as her chief of staff. Messenger was terminated on 3 May 2017 for serious misconduct. [14]
Unsuccessful litigation against Commonwealth of Australia and Senator Lambie
Following Messenger’s termination in 2017, he and his wife Fern who was Senator Lambie’s office manager, filed lawsuits in the Federal Court of Australia under the Fair Work Act 2009 against the Commonwealth of Australia and Senator Lambie.[14] Both Messengers claimed “to have exercised workplace rights; and that the adverse action to which they were each subjected was taken against them in contravention” of Australian federal law.[14]
The Federal Court had 16 days of public hearings in 2020 and 2021 with various witnesses appearing.[14] On 10 June 2022, Justice John Snaden of the Federal Court issued a published judgement, Messenger v Commonwealth of Australia [2022] FCA 677, dismissing both Messengers cases finding that “Mr and Mrs Messenger did not present as credible witnesses.”[14] Justice Snaden found that “there is no doubt, at the time of their dismissals, each of Mr and Mrs Messenger was guilty of serious misconduct.”[14]
In June 2022, the Messengers unsuccessful lawsuits drew national news and were reported extensively by various Australian media outlets. [15] [16] The Daily Telegraph reported that Justice Snaden observed “despite repeated warnings the Messengers appeared at times determined to turn the trial into some kind of broad ranging judicial inquiry in Senator Lambie’s character, or which is worse, in a trial by media."[17]
External links
References
- ^ "2004 Burnett Electoral Results". ABC News. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ "2006 Electoral Results". ABC News. 7 September 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ "Nationals MP censured for apology to prostitutes". ABC News. 8 February 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ Lnp Revolt As Mps Rob Messsenger And Aidan Mclindon Quit The Party To Become Independents The Courier Mail [dead link]
- ^ "MP's visits for work or pleasure?". The Courier-Mail. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ "Messenger lashes out on travel row". News Mail. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ "Campaign to out sex offenders". News Mail. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ Buchanan, Kallee; O'Brien, Chris (3 November 2010). "Government rejects call for public sex offender register". ABC News. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ "Messenger lured by Katter's party". The Courier-Mail. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ "Home – United Australia Party". Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ Commission, Australian Electoral. "House of Representatives Division First Preferences". results.aec.gov.au. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ Alcorn, Gay (18 April 2014). "The underdog bites back". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ Bourke, Lakita (13 November 2014). "Jacqui Lambie's chief of staff Rob Messenger expelled by Palmer over 'misleading statement'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "Messenger v Commonwealth 2022 FCA 677". 10 June 2022.
- ^ "Jacqui Lambie staffers Rob and Fern Messenger lose unfair dismissal case amid 'vengeful evidence". ABC News. 10 June 2022.
- ^ "Ex-Lambie staff sacked fairly, court rules". The Canberra Times. 10 June 2022.
- ^ "Tassie senator Jacqui Lambie's ex-staffers lose unfair dismissal suit". The Daily Telegraph. 10 June 2022.