Barry firmly rejects staff claims she was ‘terrifying’
National MP Maggie Barry says a workplace investigation cleared her of bullying charges and is vehemently rejecting claims from former parliamentary staff that she expected them to do work for the National Party — which would be unlawful.
And she has hit back at being recorded without her knowledge, and has asked Parliamentary Service to look into the matter.
The Herald revealed that Parliamentary Service had investigated claims from two former staff in Barry’s office earlier this year who said that Barry swore at and belittled staff.
The Herald has also seen messages from Barry appearing to request political work be completed during office hours, such as writing her column “Maggie’s Messenger” and completing a “Super Blues” brochure for an over-60s National Party conference.
A recording of Barry appeared to show her telling a former staffer that writing brochures on office time was “legitimate”, while acknowledging that Parliamentary Service investigators would not be impressed.
Addressing media yesterday, Barry conceded that her parliamentary staff have done National Party work, but it was in their own time and using their own email addresses.
“I never asked parliamentary staff to do party work,” she said.
“I’ve been a Member of Parliament for more than seven years. I definitely understand the distinction.”
Flanked by National MPs Nikki Kaye and Simon O’Connor, Barry strongly disagreed with descriptions from former staff that she was “terrifying” or “toxic”, and invited anyone with that view to lay a complaint with Parliamentary Service.
“I’m not toxic. If someone wants to come forward and say that I am, let them . . . take it through the appropriate channels.”
Asked if the Parliamentary Service investigations cleared her of wrongdoing, rather than simply had no finding of bullying or harassment, Barry replied: “I certainly was [cleared].”