A prominent Australian political hopeful is embroiled in a bitter legal feud with his own law partners, facing explosive accusations of bullying and exploiting staff for political gain.

The scandal surrounding Grant Hutchinson, recently preselected for the ultra-marginal Croydon seat in Victoria, highlights the fragile nature of political vetting globally. With a razor-thin 1.2% margin, this internal corporate war threatens to derail the Coalition’s hopes in the critical November 2026 election, serving as a cautionary tale on the importance of candidate integrity.

A House Divided

The conflict centers on Hutchinson Legal, a firm described in court documents as operating “as a form of Christian ministry.” Despite this ethos, the legal battle has been anything but charitable.

Documents provided by the court reveal that nearly six months prior to his preselection, Hutchinson and his wife secured a supreme court injunction. This move was designed to halt a bid by his partners to remove them from the firm.

However, this legal maneuver triggered a fierce counterclaim. Current and former partners argue that the Hutchinsons should be terminated for alleged breaches of the partnership agreement. Specifically, they accuse Hutchinson of “engaging in another profession”—a reference to his intense focus on political campaigning at the expense of his legal duties.

Allegations of Abuse

The accusations extend beyond professional negligence into serious workplace misconduct. The partners have alleged a pattern of behavior that mirrors the kind of toxic workplace cultures often decried by labor rights activists worldwide.

• Staff Exodus: Court filings claim Hutchinson’s conduct caused six employees to resign from the practice.
• Detention Claims: In a particularly severe allegation, he is accused of threatening and physically detaining one of his lawyers.
• Resource Misuse: Partners allege he utilized the firm’s staff and resources—including a defamation case—to fuel his political machinery.

One specific case involves a female lawyer who allegedly filed a complaint against Hutchinson. She has reportedly been absent from work for several months due to a workplace injury linked to the environment at the firm.

The Candidate’s Defense

Hutchinson has categorically denied the allegations in court documents. His defense maintains that the claims are unfounded, setting the stage for a protracted legal struggle that will play out alongside his political campaign.

For the Liberal party, the timing is precarious. The allegations were filed before Hutchinson’s preselection, raising questions about the thoroughness of the party's due diligence—a familiar concern for Kenyan voters accustomed to integrity questions surrounding public office seekers.

As the 2026 election approaches, the focus will likely shift from Hutchinson’s policy platform to his professional conduct, proving once again that in modern politics, the personal is always political.