In short:
A former research boss at Queensland's peak cancer charity has alleged she was wrongfully dismissed amid disputes with the chief executive.
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she → allege → executive
The lawsuit marks extra turmoil after internal gripes emerged at the organisation last year.
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gripes → mark → organisation
A research boss at Queensland's peak cancer charity has alleged its chief executive bullied her, and their workplace relationship became so dysfunctional she was told to not contact him directly, according to a lawsuit.
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she → allege → lawsuit
The lawsuit filed by Sandi Hayes, former director of research at the Cancer Council Queensland, marks the latest upheaval for a charity supporting thousands of patients and raising tens of millions of dollars annually.
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lawsuit → file → dollars
Cancer Council Queensland is defending the lawsuit and said an investigation found no wrongdoing by chief executive Matt Gardiner.
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investigation → defend → Gardiner
The defence filings allege Dr Hayes had been hostile and disrespectful in a top-level meeting, and was sacked after her and Mr Gardiner's office vibe deteriorated to the point psychological health was at risk.
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health → allege → risk
Started in 1961, the charity helps cancer patients through counselling, accommodation, a wig service and research into areas such as early cancer detection.
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charity → start → detection
It had in 2025 posted a worsening financial situation, high staff turnover and internal gripes.
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It → post → situation
While latest accounts are yet to be released, the council has now proclaimed financial performance had surged, and it was providing more services and record research investment.
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it → release → services
Mr Gardiner declined interview requests but told the ABC in a statement: "Cancer Council Queensland is becoming increasingly effective, increasingly influential and increasingly capable of creating a future where fewer Queenslanders experience cancer."
Mr Gardiner, who started in February last year, also said: "For more than a year, a small group of former employees have pursued a campaign of damaging rumours, misinformation and unsupported allegations."
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group → decline → rumours
The Courier-Mail in October last year first detailed a spate of staff departures and concerns, including one employee in a widespread email complaining of a "shift away from emotional, psychosocial and financial support — the very services that have defined [the organisation's] compassion and impact".
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that → detail → compassion
The ABC can reveal further upheaval since.
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ABC → reveal → upheaval
Among that is Dr Hayes claiming she was wrongfully dismissed in an ongoing Federal Circuit Court lawsuit filed against the council, Mr Gardiner and recently appointed chairman Todd Everitt.
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she → claim → council
Her filings said she had allegedly levelled complaints against Mr Gardiner, including to board members at the Brisbane Club or over a Microsoft Teams chat.
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she → say → chat
That included discussing in April last year Mr Gardiner's communication and alleging "integrity and trust issues including equity issues" about his "relationship" with another person at the organisation.
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That → include → organisation
But the joint defence claimed Dr Hayes's concerns then were about the chief executive's work-style and technical understanding of research, and Dr Hayes's gripes were not a complaint under workplace laws.
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gripes → claim → laws
Both sides' filings detailed versions of clashes such as an argument during budget planning, or about executive titles.
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filings → detail → titles
At one stage, Dr Hayes said a staffer sought approval to opt out of a "Pride Month" computer-screen display due to his strong Christian beliefs.
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staffer → say → beliefs
Mr Gardiner rejected the request and, according to the defence, said: "Some people will need to think about whether their personal values align with the organisation's values."
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values → reject → values
Dr Hayes's lawsuit also detailed facing several accusations against herself as matters progressed, such as about her conduct at an August meeting with nine organisation executives.
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matters → detail → executives
The defence filings alleged an internal investigation determined Dr Hayes had been hostile and disrespectful then, particularly toward the chief executive, while also criticising "two discreet comments" Mr Gardiner had made.
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Gardiner → allege → comments
By October last year, Dr Hayes, who at one stage took temporary leave, had alleged bullying and inappropriate behaviour from the chief executive and the other person at the organisation, her lawsuit claimed.
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lawsuit → take → organisation
That same month, Dr Hayes was told communications between herself and Mr Gardiner must temporarily be emailed via the human resources chief.
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communications → tell → chief
The defence filing stated this was based on Dr Hayes's medical advice, Mr Gardiner had received the same instructions and the no-contact directive would uphold both executives' "psychosocial safety".
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directive → state → safety
Court documents also said a commissioned investigation into Mr Gardiner and the other person at the organisation "did not substantiate" allegations raised.
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investigation → say → allegations
Dr Hayes's lawyers could not obtain a copy of it.
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lawyers → obtain → it
Despite mediation attempts, Dr Hayes was ultimately fired this February.
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Hayes → fire → attempts
The defence filings alleged this was because Dr Hayes could not work with Mr Gardiner without "giving rise to a health and safety risk".
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Hayes → allege → risk
The organisation and Dr Hayes declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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organisation → decline → lawsuit
The spat contrasts with the council's uplifting public presence; its Facebook page profiles people walking or dancing around athletic tracks for its Relay for Life charity event.
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page → contrast → event
Volunteers sell yellow daffodils in another fundraising effort.
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Volunteers → sell → effort
The organisation told the ABC service levels had risen: providing 26,575 bed nights last year at accommodation centres, up 8.6 per cent, and financial counselling services for 287 people, up 23 per cent.
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levels → tell → people
It added psychological counselling sessions had been decentralised to reach more people.
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sessions → add → people
The council also said a recent staff engagement result — which consolidates 12 answers — lifted to a "good" 4.1 out of 5.
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which → say → 5
But one source with knowledge of the organisation said an internal review in February this year indicated staff satisfaction levels had dropped.
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levels → say → February
That same month, an employee allegedly emailed others describing trying to alleviate pressure on its psychological counselling service, saying some waiting periods were up eight weeks.
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periods → email → service
The organisation did not dispute either account.
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organisation → dispute → account
At a town hall meeting last December, then chairman Robert Gregg told that meeting the organisation had needed reform.
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organisation → tell → reform
"Things had to change," he said.
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he → have → ?
He also argued Mr Gardiner had copped blame for changes previously in train.
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Gardiner → argue → train
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia