The opposition has stepped up pressure on Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, demanding her sacking if she misled parliament over prior knowledge of Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations, as Anthony Albanese sought to discredit the attacks by highlighting they are being driven by News Corporation’s reporting.

As Mr Albanese said he found it “bizarre” his close ally was under fire over allegations that involved Liberal staffers in a Liberal minister’s office, lawyers representing media outlets and journalists said the leaking of text messages was “calculated to put pressure on witnesses” in a defamation case that goes to the heart of the matter.