House debates

Tuesday, 16 February 2021

Questions without Notice

Members of Parliament: Staff

2:06 pm

Photo of Tanya PlibersekTanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Brittany Higgins says that the Prime Minister's principal secretary was aware that she had been sexually assaulted in the defence minister's office soon after the reported assault in March 2019. When and how did the Prime Minister first become aware of the reported sexual assault of Brittany Higgins?

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

As I said this morning, I became aware of the alleged sexual assault at about 8.30 yesterday morning. That is true. That is when I became aware of it. The first time that my office became aware of an alleged sexual assault, I'm advised, was on 5 April of this year. Sorry, I misread that—apologies. It was 12 February 2021. That's when my office first became aware, I'm advised, of an alleged sexual assault.