Deputy prime minister calls Jo Tarnawsky a ‘wonderful’ person after her claim she was effectively sacked without warning

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Richard Marles has praised his chief of staff as a “wonderful person” but disputed her version of how she has been treated after she alleged he had effectively sacked her without warning when she raised a concern about colleagues’ behaviour.

Jo Tarnawsky remains employed as Marles’ chief of staff but told Guardian Australia she had not had contact with her boss in five months, since he told her in a phone call that she should find other employment.