Peter Dutton has backed a transfer to refer the confidential Commonwealth payout made to former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins to the brand new federal integrity watchdog for investigation.
The Opposition Leader instructed 2GB Radio on Thursday that Anthony Albanese and different senior figures within the federal authorities had inquiries to reply concerning the payout and what they knew about Ms Higgins’ rape allegation and when.
“It just seems that as each day goes by, there are more questions than there are answers and I think that’s creating a lot of suspicion understandably,” Mr Dutton stated.
Ms Higgins reached a settlement with the Commonwealth in December final 12 months after she launched authorized motion towards her employers the previous Coalition authorities over their dealing with of her rape allegation.
Mr Dutton stated he thought the brand new National Anti-Corruption Commission, as a consequence of be operational subsequent month, would have an curiosity in trying on the “sequence of events” that led to Ms Higgins’ payout.
“Because, if there is a question about the process involved in a payout or there is a question around the Prime Minister’s own words in relation to this … they’re very serious allegations,” he stated.
Mr Dutton made the remarks after former Coalition minister Linda Reynolds stated she may ask the NACC to research the federal government’s resolution to award compensation to Ms Higgins, her former staffer.
Ms Higgins alleged she was raped in 2019 by her colleague Bruce Lehrmann inside Senator Reynolds’ ministerial workplace once they have been each working for the previous defence minister.
Mr Lehrmann has all the time denied Ms Higgins’ allegation and pleaded not responsible. He was not required to offer proof in his trial within the ACT Supreme Court final 12 months that was derailed by juror misconduct earlier than prosecutors later dropped the fees towards him.
Fresh media stories of leaked textual content messages between Ms Higgins and her companion David Sharaz counsel the pair mentioned strategizing with Finance Minister Katy Gallagher when she was a Labor frontbencher in opposition.
Senator Gallagher had beforehand stated she didn’t know concerning the alleged sexual assault till the story broke.
In June 2021, she responded with outrage when she was requested in parliament whether or not she knew about Ms Higgins’ allegations earlier than the previous staffer got here ahead.
At the time, Senator Reynolds claimed she had been tipped off to Labor being conscious of the allegation earlier than it grew to become public data.
An indignant Senator Gallagher responded by saying: “No one had any knowledge. How dare you.”
Now finance minister, Senator Gallagher is liable for the division that paid the confidential settlement to Ms Higgins.
Senator Gallagher instructed ABC Radio on Wednesday that she had “absolutely no role” in processing or paying out Ms Higgins’ compensation declare.
Asked about her relationship with Mr Sharaz, she stated she had identified him when he was a journalist in Canberra and she or he was the ACT chief minister.
“But I have nothing further to add. My statements are all on the record, and I’m comfortable with those,” she stated.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus rejected recommendations the federal government had any inquiries to reply concerning the settlement paid to Ms Higgins that he stated was “entirely in accordance” with the legislation.
“It’s very common for the Commonwealth to settle claims on the basis of agreed confidentiality,” he instructed Nine’s Today Show on Thursday.
“It’s very often in the Commonwealth’s interests that there be confidentiality and, often in the case of sexual harassment claims, there is a desire on the part of the claimant to keep the matter confidential.”
Mr Dreyfus stated he was “absolutely” assured the federal government had nothing to cover.
Asked on ABC News Breakfast if the newly printed textual content messages between Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz raised any questions concerning the actions of then Labor frontbenchers that wanted to be investigated, Mr Dreyfus stated: “No. Just no.”
The quantity of the Ms Higgins’ settlement was saved confidential, however it’s reportedly estimated to be value as much as $3m. She reportedly donated a portion of her payout to the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre.
Later on Thursday, Mr Albanese disregarded questions on whether or not the method that led to Ms Higgins’ settlement might be investigated by the NACC by saying it was inappropriate for politicians to attempt to direct the actions of the integrity fee.
“It, in fact, could be regarded as an entirely inappropriate action by the prime minister or any other politician for that matter to try to direct the anti-corruption commission into what to do. We set it up as an independent body,” he stated
“You’re asking me to do something that is entirely inappropriate because the anti-corruption commission is independent of politics. That’s the idea. If it’s in with politics, that itself is a problem.”
Mr Dreyfus stated earlier on Thursday that anybody was welcome to refer issues to the NACC, which was on monitor to be up and operating from July 1.
“It’ll be independent and a matter for the National Anti-Corruption Commission to decide what and how it will investigate,” he instructed Today.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
