A junior employee who worked in Bill Shorten's Canberra office has received a financial settlement after claiming she was "unfairly dismissed".

Key points: Receptionist challenged "unfair" dismissal from Shorten's office

Receptionist challenged "unfair" dismissal from Shorten's office Eventual settlement was worth at least 20 weeks in lost wages

Eventual settlement was worth at least 20 weeks in lost wages Finance Department has declined to comment

The ABC has learnt a protracted industrial relations dispute in Bill Shorten's own office was finally settled last week — but not before legal intervention, which involved the Australian government solicitor.

A receptionist who had worked in the Opposition Leader's parliamentary office, and was made redundant earlier this year challenged her sacking, claiming "unfair dismissal".

Last week the former Canberra-based employee received a financial settlement, which the ABC has been told was worth at least 20 weeks' worth of lost wages.

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The settlement was reached with the Department of Finance, which oversees salaries and entitlements for parliamentarians and their staff.

But the Finance Department has refused to comment after being approached with a series of questions.

"The Department does not comment on individual matters," it said in a statement.

Mr Shorten has also declined to discuss the details of the case.

"This matter was dealt with by the Department of Finance at arm's length," he said.

"Out of respect for the parties involved in that particular matter there's been a confidentiality settlement — I'm not going to compromise that."

All parties involved in the case are bound by confidentiality clauses in the financial settlement.