In one instance, vehemently denied by the union, it was alleged that UFU secretary Peter Marshall threatened to put an axe through Ms Garrett's head. Premier Daniel Andrews in State Parliament on Tuesday. Credit:Vince Caligiuri Ms Garrett announced she was making a formal complaint through "appropriate independent channels" at the end of a chaotic day of internal Labor fighting. Ms Garrett was threatened with disendorsement, and pressured to resign, during an emotional caucus meeting in which she was singled out as being the source of damaging leaks against the Premier. Treasurer Tim Pallas is understood to have addressed the meeting declaring he would "not name names" but the person responsible for leaking sensitive documents should "go".

But according to one account, Bentleigh MP Nick Staikos then said he would "not be as kind" as Mr Pallas, naming Ms Garrett as the source of the leak. Jane Garrett in State Parliament on Tuesday. Credit:Vince Caligiuri Should Ms Garrett leave parliament it would set up a knife-edge by-election in Brunswick, which Labor holds from the Greens by 2.2 per cent. A loss would reduce the ALP's majority to just one seat. A number of MPs, some of whom were in tears, also spoke against Ms Garrett, vowing not to support her in any preselection contest or vote. United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall. Credit:Justin McManus

But some MPs later criticised the "co-ordinated bullying of Jane in caucus." A text message from Ms Garrett's staff was also produced as evidence that she had leaked the information because one of her electoral officers sent a text message to a Labor insider with the same name as a News Corp journalist James Campbell. But Ms Garrett said her staffer had not made contact with Campbell, and no documents were provided to Campbell. In her statement, Ms Garrett said she was finalising a complaint and that she had been subject to "distressing conduct" from Mr Marshall during the Easter break in 2015 after she refused, as minister, to intervene in a disciplinary case concerning a commander accused of distributing racist and pornographic material.

"Given the Premier's recent comments that people should avail themselves of 'avenues of complaint' if they feel they have suffered mistreatment...I have been finalising a formal complaint about the treatment that I and my staff received during my tenure," Ms Garrett said. Mr Andrews' spokeswoman said any complaint made by Ms Garrett should be dealt with appropriately. Mr Marshall said Ms Garrett's allegations were "absolutely without any basis", saying her motivation was part of a union-busting campaign. "This is not about me. This is about the Premier and it is about Jane Garrett's leadership ambitions. It appears Jane Garrett has been destabilising her own party by continually leaking to the media," Mr Marshall said. The former minister's late afternoon statement further angered Mr Andrews' supporters.

"This shows she has not listened to caucus, and sees herself as more important than the broader Labor movement," one source said. "She is certainly not untouchable." Ms Garrett also flagged that she would participate in the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission's inquiry into diversity, harassment, bullying and sexism in the state's fire services. The former minister has been subpoenaed to appear at next month's Supreme Court hearing on whether the controversial workplace agreement for paid CFA staff is legal. The day began with revelations Mr Andrews' industrial relations adviser John-Paul Blandthorn had written a brief to the Premier last year saying that Mr Marshall's demands and behaviour had "crossed the line". Mr Andrews dismissed the leaked memo as selectively quoted by News Corp.

Also on Tuesday, the Premier's former boss, retired federal MP Alan Griffin, warned that the Andrews government was in danger of becoming a "train wreck" amid persistent white-anting and internal leaks. So far any talk of a leadership challenge to Mr Andrews has been brushed off. One report suggest Mr Andrews' detractors had been "counting the numbers" without any obvious challenger identified.