House debates Questions without Notice

Members of Parliament: Staff

Thursday, 25 March 2021 House of Representatives

Ms Catherine King

Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development

2:31 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the formal complaint from Brittany Higgins to the Prime Minister's chief of staff that asks him to examine if the Prime Minister's office undermined her loved ones. Has the Prime Minister asked his staff if they undermined Brittany Higgins's loved ones? Does he deny his office undermined Brittany Higgins's loved ones?

Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

I have seen and received that correspondence. I will be responding to Brittany Higgins over the course of today. Separate to that, following my interview this morning on ABC AM, my chief of staff received confidential information—not the matter the member is referring to—from a primary and direct source regarding these matters. In response, based on that information, I have asked my chief of staff to commence a process in accordance with advice from the Department of Finance for dealing with complaints against staff members. We will now follow that process in dealing with that matter.