A former Jacqui Lambie staffer is threatening to refer the Senator and Prime Minister Scott Morrison to federal Labor's planned corruption watchdog over an employment matter.
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Rob Messenger - once Senator Lambie's chief of staff - said he would refer the federal government and the Tasmanian crossbench Senator to Labor's promised federal independent commission against corruption if Labor won the May 21 election and set up an ICAC.
Mr Messenger said Mr Morrison had refused to explain to him but would have to explain to a federal ICAC why the government approved then covered up a matter relating to a particular person's employment.
"In the future, should he lose the election, PM Morrison will have to explain to a federal ICAC his actions, or, rather, his inaction," former Queensland MP Mr Messenger said.
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"Given the tough questions PM Morrison will personally face at a future ICAC ... then it's understandable why the Liberal Party and PM Morrison fervently oppose being held to account by a new federal corruption watchdog."
Comment was being sought from Mr Morrison and Senator Lambie.
Mr Morrison's department wrote to Mr Messenger's wife, Fern, in 2019 saying Mr Morrison had asked that she be thanked for a letter referring to the allegations.
The department said the New South Wales government would be best placed to respond and Mrs Messenger's letter had been referred to the office of the NSW premier (Gladys Berejiklian at the time).
It was not made clear why it was regarded as a New South Wales matter, rather than a federal matter.
Mrs Messenger is also a former Lambie staffer.
The Messengers worked in the office until 2017.
They claim they were unfairly dismissed by Senator Lambie after complaining to then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull about her.
That led to a Federal Court case, which is yet to be finalised.
Senator Lambie told the court last year the Messengers were trying to belittle and shame her when they wrote to Mr Turnbull.
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Sean Ford
The Advocate Newspaper, Tasmania. Business, economics, politics, crime.
The Advocate Newspaper, Tasmania. Business, economics, politics, crime.
