Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. At the time Ms Higgins disclosed that an alleged rape had taken place in the minister's office on the evening of 22 March 2019, was the minister's chief of staff a person who had previously worked for the Prime Minister—a person returned to the Prime Minister's office after working for Minister Reynolds?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm aware of Senator Reynolds's former chief of staff at that point in time. I can't recall offhand, Senator Wong, in terms of the sequence of the different offices that she has worked in, but I will take that on notice.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, a supplementary question?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the minister for taking the matter on notice. I ask a further question. Ms Higgins has said that the Prime Minister's principal private secretary, whom she describes as Mr Morrison's 'fixer', was involved in the week after the alleged rape. On what basis was the Prime Minister's principal private secretary involved? What was his role?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am not aware. I understand the Prime Minister has answered some questions directly in relation to the contact or otherwise with the principal private secretary, and I'd refer the senator to the Prime Minister's answers to those questions.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, a final supplementary question?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would ask the minister to come back and respond to that question. I ask a further question. Ms Higgins has said that the Prime Minister's principal private secretary contacted her to 'check in' on her when she was off work in the week following Four Corners airing its 'Inside the Canberra bubble' expose of sexual misconduct within the coalition government. Can the minister explain why the Prime Minister's principal private secretary made that contact?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd refer the senator to my previous answer. Not all of those statements, I think, are necessarily accepted, in relation to some of the responses that have been given. However, if there is anything to add to that I will bring it to the chamber.