First class folly: Jamie Briggs flouted ex-PM Tony Abbott’s first class travel ban and distributed photo of female public servant who lodged complaint

DISGRACED minister Jamie Briggs distributed a photo of the female public servant who complained about his behaviour at a bar in Hong Kong.

Jamie Briggs leaving the Liberal Party Room meeting at Parliament House in Canberra.

• Chris Kenny: Hong Kong ‘incident’ no reason for Briggs to be sacked
• Briggs’ Hong Kong hangover that won’t go away

DISGRACED junior minister Jamie Briggs repeatedly flouted former prime minister Tony Abbott’s ban on ministers travelling first class — and personally distributed to colleagues a photograph identifying the female public servant who lodged a confidential complaint about his behaviour in a Hong Kong bar.

After publicly stating that he’d chosen not to name the woman to “protect her privacy’’, Mr Briggs confirmed on Saturday that a pixelated photograph of the 26-year-old woman, published on the front page of TheWeekend Australian, was from his own mobile phone.

The former minister denied leaking the picture to the newspaper — but confirmed he’d “sent it to a few people prior to the complaint and following’’.

The Sunday Mail can also reveal Mr Briggs has accepted dozens of bottles of fine wines and champagne during his time as an MP. The Mayo MP pointed to the photograph as evidence of the “informal’’ and friendly nature of the evening.

“I didn’t have anything to do with today’s stories. I called and apologised. I called (the public servant) because I thought it was the right thing to do.’’

Mr Briggs accepted flight upgrades to first class on five occasions after Mr Abbott announced he had “banned’’ the practice.

Jamie Briggs with Malcolm Turnbull in Parliament.

Mr Briggs yesterday defended the first-class travel on the grounds that “we had no choice’’ after Emirates upgraded his flights and that he had not requested the upgrades — which are detailed in documents tabled in Parliament.

“They were upgraded at the gate,’’ Mr Briggs said. “I advised the Prime Minister’s Office at the time as required. There was obviously no additional cost.

“I didn’t request the upgrades and I certainly didn’t disregard the rules.

“From memory, it happened four times. I didn’t do anything wrong.’’

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Mr Abbott have previously revealed that they expressly reject upgrades to first class when offered.

Mr Briggs accepted more than 50 bottles of freebie wine in one year, a bottle of Moet & Chandon at Derby Day on 2013, crates of other fine wines and champagne that were duly disclosed on the parliamentary register.

He also flew his wife to Melbourne for the AFL Grand Final for the purpose of “family reunion’’ travel, which is allowed for under the rules. According to disclosures to Parliament, in 2014, he also accepted a free membership to the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge, a super elite, invitation-only lounge.

TROUBLESPOT: Jamie Briggs’ chief of staff Stuart Eaton with the unidentified consular official. The photo was sent around by Mr Briggs.

In 2012, Mr Briggs accepted more than 50 bottles of Tomich wine including a dozen 2012 Tomich Arts Grace & Glory shiraz, a dozen Tomich Arts Wing & A Prayer sav-blanc, NV Tomich Sparkling chardonnay (12-pack), 2010 Tomich Hill pinot noir (12-pack), and half a dozen Tomich Hill Reserve chardonnay.

In August 2012, he also accepted free beer from Coopers Brewery “for function’’, including five cartons of beer.

A married father of three, Mr Briggs, 38, quit the ministry this week after claims he kissed the woman on the cheek, told her she had “piercing eyes” and put his arm around the young female public servant during a boozy night out last month at the popular Hong Kong bar Stormies.

The Sunday Mail can reveal that some Cabinet ministers were “shocked” at the volume of alcohol he disclosed to investigators in a Cabinet-in-confidence report that detailed his Hong Kong high jinks with the young public servant. After the woman complained to Mr Briggs’s chief of staff, Stuart Eaton, that the minister was standing too close to her, Mr Eaton told her to come and stand next to him.

Outside the Stormies bar in Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong. Picture: Michael Perini

The two were photographed together and she appeared in good spirits. Mr Briggs had met the young woman that day before inviting her out to dinner with Mr Eaton.

They then went out to have a drink at Stormies.

Mr Eaton later contacted the staffer to ask if she had his mobile phone, which he’d lost that night.

She told him she didn’t have the phone but subsequently got in touch to raise concerns about the behaviour of Mr Briggs.