PM orders MP to stand aside after Rachelle Miller allegations

Education Minister Alan Tudge has been ordered to stand aside amid a probe into claims he was emotionally abusive to his former lover.

Alan Tudge has been asked to stand aside while serious allegations raised by a former staff member are investigated.

The Education Minister went public with his extramarital affair with former staffer Rachelle Miller last year.

But on Thursday, Ms Miller came forward with allegations their relationship was abusive and the result of a power imbalance.

Scott Morrison said the issues were “deeply concerning” and “deeply distressing for Ms Miller, Minister Tudge, and the families affected by these events”.

“I have discussed Ms Miller’s statement with Mr Tudge, who refuted the allegations made,” Mr Morrison told parliament.

“Given the seriousness of the claims made by Ms Miller, it’s important these matters be resolved fairly and expeditiously.

“To this end, the Minister has agreed to my request to stand aside while these issues are addressed by my department, through an independent and fair process, to ensure that the matters raised can be properly assessed and the views put by the respective parties in relation to these issues.”

Mr Morrison said this would enable his department to provide him with any further advice regarding any implications for the ministerial standards.

“I do wish to stress that this action, in no way seeks to draw a conclusion on these matters,” he said.

“I note that Minister Tudge has welcomed this process, and he looks forward to participating.”

Mr Morrison’s chief of staff will contact Ms Miller.

Speaking earlier at Parliament House, Ms Miller said she wanted to say that what had happened to her “was not OK”.

She claimed that while on a work trip with Mr Tudge, where former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and other government ministers were in attendance, she had woken up “completely naked” after a night of drinking.

“I could not remember a single thing from the night before. I don’t remember how we ended up in the room. I don’t remember leaving the bar. I don’t remember if we had sex. I don’t remember if we used protection,” she said.

“I still don’t. I was too afraid to ask if he remembered.

“I had no option but to bury it and continue my job on an extremely busy day a long way from my home.”

Former Liberal staffer Rachelle Miller made allegations that her ex-boss and ex-lover Alan Tudge had been emotionally abusive. Picture: Martin Ollman

Mr Tudge has firmly refuted Ms Miller’s claims, saying “I completely and utterly reject Ms Miller’s version of events”.

Earlier, Liberal senators Holly Hughes and Jane Hume both rejected calls for the Minister to step down.

Senator Hughes said while she hadn’t spoken to Ms Miller, she did not believe anyone could be sacked on the basis of an unproven claim.

“I don’t think people should be sacked because someone makes an accusation against them,” she said.

“This was a consensual affair. That’s he said/she said, and Minister Tudge has denied those allegations.

“I don’t think you can be sacked on the basis of an unproven allegation that occurred in a consensual affair that they’ve both said they regret.”

Senator Hume said she would urge Minister Tudge to “reflect on his behaviours”.

“Mr Tudge is a close colleague and a good friend. I think he’s excellent in his portfolio, and without allegations substantiated … I think he should be staying in,” she said.

Senator Hollie Hughes has stood by Liberal Minister Alan Tudge and that there was no reason for him to resign. Picture: Gary Ramage

She said she felt “really sad” that Rachelle Miller did not participate in a review into the affair.

The review was carried out by the Department of Finance.

“If she had felt supported to participate in that review, maybe there would have been a different outcome,” Senator Hume said.

“But the review found that the allegations were unsubstantiated.

“If that independent inquiry had have happened today, I would hope that Rachelle Miller would have felt supported enough by her colleagues and by her workplace to be able to come forward and make her case.

“Every woman should feel comfortable coming forward if they feel that they have been treated poorly, if they feel that they’ve been harassed, if they feel that they’ve been bullied … Everybody should feel supported in this place.”

Senator Jane Hume said her biggest ‘heartbreak’ was that Rachelle Miller did not feel that she could participate in the review into her relationship with Alan Tudge. Picture: David Geraghty

Tensions are rising over the conduct of members of parliament, after Greens senator Lidia Thorpe apologised for inappropriate comments levelled against Senator Hughes.

Senator Hughes said Senator Thorpe had said “at least I kept my legs shut”, in a comment that “every single person” that spoke to her in the aftermath inferred was a reference to her autistic son.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so offended,” she said.

“I hope people really take some stock over the Christmas break and think about their behaviour and the way they conduct themselves, but I do believe most people in this place act incredibly well.

“There are obviously a few bad examples, and I think Senator Thorpe displayed last night that she needs to spend a lot of time thinking about how she engages with her fellow senators.”

Senator Thorpe said in a statement she regretted interjecting with inappropriate language, and apologised “unreservedly” to the Senator.

“However, I thoroughly reject any suggestion that I directly or indirectly referenced Senator Hughes’ family,” she said.

“That characterisation of my interjection is completely untrue, and more importantly, harmful to every disabled person.”

While Mr Tudge stands aside, Stuart Robert will act as Education Minister.

Originally published as PM orders MP to stand aside after Rachelle Miller allegations