An investigation into who in Scott Morrison’s inside circle knew about Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation has been on ice for practically two years, with the Albanese authorities now chargeable for resuming the inquiry.
Ministers, together with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have used the never-released report back to deflect questions on ideas Labor sought to weaponise the allegation whereas in opposition.
“There was of course an inquiry into what the Prime Minister’s office knew and when and who was told. We still have never seen the Gaetjens inquiry,” Mr Albanese mentioned on Tuesday throughout a query time grilling.
Last Friday, the Prime Minister informed Sunrise that “Peter Dutton needs to, if you want to be transparent, he needs to release or someone needs to release the Gaetjens report that we still have never seen”.
However, the report was halted in August 2021 earlier than it may very well be completed, and a spokesman for the Prime Minister and Cabinet confirmed the inquiry didn’t restart after the federal election.
“It remains incomplete,” they mentioned.
It’s understood that until the Albanese authorities ordered the PM&C to select up the investigation, it should stay unfinished.
The Prime Minister’s workplace was contacted for remark.
In 2021, Mr Morrison ordered the then-head of PM&C, Phil Gaetjens, to steer an inquiry within the days after the previous Liberal staffer went public and made a police grievance.
After Bruce Lehrmann was charged, the inquiry was halted, with Mr Gaetjens citing issues it “could prejudice criminal proceedings”.
Following the 2022 election, Mr Gaetjens was dumped by Labor as Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary.
Mr Lehrmann’s trial was aborted on account of jury misconduct. In December, the costs have been dropped and a retrial didn’t proceed on account of issues about Ms Higgins’ psychological well being.
He pleaded not responsible to 1 cost of sexual assault. He has frequently denied the allegation and there have been no findings made in opposition to him.
PM&C weren’t ordered to recommence the inquiry when felony proceedings have been finalised.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, who’s dealing with a barrage of questions on her involvement following the publication of personal texts between Ms Higgins and fiance David Sharaz, mentioned the inquiry was one of many questions left “unanswered”.
“For example, the secret Gaetjens report, commissioned by the former prime minister, Mr Scott Morrison, that still hasn’t seen the light of day,” she mentioned.
How the Higgins inquiry unfolded
Senator Gallagher was pressured to defend herself after leaked textual content messages prompt she had misled parliament in saying she didn’t learn about Ms Higgins’ allegation earlier than it was printed on news.com.au.
She conceded she was conscious of Ms Higgins’ allegation earlier than it was made public, however didn’t weaponise it.
“I did nothing with that information, absolutely nothing. I was asked to keep it to myself and I did,” Senator Gallagher mentioned.
“I wasn’t involved in any way with the story that went to air.”
Repeatedly requested to provide additional particulars later in query time, the Finance Minister declined.
“I’m not going to stand here and go through private conversations of a very, very difficult time in her life. A person who has had her privacy breached in the most egregious way over the last two years,” Senator Gallagher mentioned.
When Mr Gaetjens suspended the inquiry in 2021, Labor mentioned it “beggars belief” that the report had not been accomplished.
Earlier, the Prime Minister signalled he had no plans to open up a contemporary inquiry.
“We need to be cognisant of the impact this is having on people,” he mentioned at a caucus assembly in response to a spokesman.
“People will make their own judgment on whether it is tenable that no one said anything to Scott Morrison in 2019 or 2020, especially during the campaign.
“We acted responsibly all the way through.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
