AN alleged workplace bullying case between Nationals MP Tim McCurdy and former staff member Jill McGillivray has been re-ignited.
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Mr McCurdy, the member for Ovens Valley, has ignored a request from lawyers acting for Ms McGillivray to retract and withdraw allegations relating to the case which was settled out of court late last year.
Lawyers Nevin Lenne Gross set a deadline of noon on Thursday for Mr McCurdy to issue a media release correcting comments he has allegedly made about his former staffer.
The allegations include that in October last year Mr McCurdy said “that bitch has been on full pay all this time” and publicity surrounding the case had been orchestrated to damage his chances of being re-elected to State Parliament a month later.
Last month at the Milawa-Whorouly National Party annual meeting and North East Valleys leadership training program Mr McCurdy allegedly said at both gatherings the case had been “thrown out of court”.
Mr McCurdy denied the allegations yesterday.
“It is not an issue I want to discuss,” he said.
“I deny all the allegations and the claims are false.”
Lawyer Ty Redmond is acting on behalf of Ms McGillivray who worked for Mr McCurdy until April 2013 after working for his predecessor Ken Jasper from 2000.
Mr Redmond said the alleged comments by Mr McCurdy were incorrect and defamatory.
“They are likely to cause damage to the reputation of our client in the eyes of the community,” he said.
“Our client expressly reserves her right to take further action.”
The media release requested by Nevin Lenne Gross asked Mr McCurdy to state: “I have recently made comments to various members of the community regarding Ms Jillian McGillivray.
“In these comments I made certain statements which are not true and which may be defamatory in that those statements are likely to cause damage to the reputation of Ms Jillian McGillivray in the eyes of right thinking members of the community in general.
“As such, I unreservedly retract them.
“Specifically, I have made statements that Ms McGillivray’s proceeding in the Magistrate Court of Victoria had been thrown out.
“I confirm that these statements were incorrect and that these WorkCover proceedings regarding allegations of bullying and harassment were settled out of court.
“I apologise to Ms McGillivray for any harm caused by making such false representations.”
