Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2:10 pm
My question is to the Minister for Finance. On 10 June 2023, you said regarding Ms Higgins's sexual assault allegations:
I wasn't aware of the full allegations …
Prior to 15 February 2021, did you receive a copy of Ms Higgins's TheProject interview, the transcript of that interview or any part of it? How did you receive it and from whom?
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
GALLAGHER (—) (): I thank Senator Cash for the question referencing statements I made back in June 2023. I stand by those statements. In respect of her other question, I refer to my statement and I stand by that statement. What you are asking me to do is breach the confidence of a—
Opposition senators interjec ting—
Let's be clear about what you're asking me to do here. What you are asking me to do here is to disclose information that was given to me and asked to be kept by me in confidence by a woman who was alleged to have been—
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
President, I raise a point of order on direct relevance. The question went beyond the statement that Senator Gallagher made today to a level of detail not contained in that statement. Further, given the mischaracterisation of the question being made by Senator Gallagher, it asked whether the information that subsequently became public via the content of the Project interview was provided to her in advance. That is not confidential information. It was subsequently publicised.
Sue Lines President
The minister is being relevant, and I will continue to listen carefully to her response.
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
Just to finish that off, I was provided with information—I have made that clear—in the days leading up to Ms Higgins's allegations becoming public. I don't intend to disclose further interactions with any people who contact me and ask me to keep their confidence. I wouldn't ask the same of you, Senator Cash.
Opposition senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade
You are a hypocrite.
Sue Lines President
Order, Senators Ayres! I should not have to ask this chamber over and over to come to order.
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
The information that was given to me, which— (Time expired)
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2:13 pm
Minister, you told the Senate earlier today:
… I did nothing with that information—absolutely nothing.
Yet it has been reported that you not only received an advance transcript of the Project interview but provided written feedback. Minister, did you provide any feedback on that interview? If so, when and to whom and in what format?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
I'm not going to call the minister until there is order, Senator Brown!
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
2:14 pm
Again, my answers to these matters are going to be the same. When somebody comes to me and provides me with information that they want kept confidential—and it happens all the time in this job—I am going to. What we have seen in the last week with these messages being sprayed around on TV and in newspapers and all the rest of it is sending out the message that, if you share information with anybody, if you confide in anybody, if you seek help from anybody, you will be subject to that information being sought and placed on the public record. I have acted appropriately at all times and with dignity, with respect—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Minister, please resume your seat. Order! Minister, if you wish to continue you have 10 seconds. Senator Cash, second supplementary?
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2:15 pm
Minister, prior to 15 February 2021, did you communicate any aspect of the allegations with any member of your staff, Senator Wong or her staff, or Mr Albanese or his staff?
Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service
No.