Katy Gallagher faces questions in parliament over knowledge of Brittany Higgins rape allegation

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has broken down in parliament on Thursday under relentless questioning from the Coalition over her knowledge of Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has broken down in parliament on Thursday under relentless questioning from the Coalition over her knowledge of Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations.

Ms Gallagher’s voice broke as she again refused to answer questions by Coalition MPs citing the confidentiality of women who come to her with complaints of sexual assaults.

The emotional response did not prevent more questions from the Coalition.

It comes after an impassioned plea on Wednesday from Ms Gallagher also did little to subdue a second day of Coalition attacks in question time, with Liberal MPs grilling Labor on its knowledge of rape allegations that rocked the nation two years ago.

The government also evoked concerns from the Department of Public Prosecutions about the mental health of Brittany Higgins — concerns that prompted DPP to abandon the pursuit of a second criminal trial and drop charges.

Senator Katy Gallagher during Question time. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But Coalition MPs seized on reports that Ms Gallagher had been invited to Ms Higgins’ partner David Sharaz’s first wedding pushing her to answer if she ever invited the former journalist to any personal events.

Ms Gallagher said she had a “professional relationship” with Mr Sharaz but does not recall inviting him to any personal events.

“I had an official relationship with Mr Sharaz … and that is the extent of it,” she told parliament.

“I got a lot of invitations to a lot of things … I did not attend that one. The invitation was declined.”

Ms Gallagher pleaded to the conscience of Coalition MPs and revealed she had been “inundated” with calls from women’s support groups fearing the Coalition’s tactics of attacking her over Ms Higgins’ claims will deter others from coming forward with sexual assault complaints.

“I have been inundated with calls from women’s organisations and from women that are concerned about how this debate is going to impact on women making choices,” she said.

“Women are living right now in dangerous situations … consider the impact on them, we have a bigger job to do in here to protect those women.

“The message to them is watch out, don’t open your mouth and I think that is wrong.”

Her plea was reiterated by Senator Penny Wong who urged the Coalition to consider Ms Higgins’ mental health after her private text messages have repeatedly been leaked to the media and formed the basis of Coalition attacks on the government.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Beach

The Coalition again pursued Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek with questions about Labor’s knowledge of Ms Higgins’ allegation, but were unsuccessful in eliciting answers.

Asked how he could stand by Ms Gallagher’s changing account of her prior knowledge of the allegation before Ms Higgins went public, Mr Albanese stood by his senior minister.

The Prime Minister highlighted a comment made by Linda Reynolds in 2021 after she had accused Labor of plotting to weaponise the accusation against her, in which the Liberal Senator confirmed she accepted Ms Gallagher’s assurance she was “not involved in the matter becoming public”

“Senator Gallagher had a clear discussion, a clear discussion with Senator Reynolds and told Senator Reynolds exactly what she knew,” Mr Albanese said.

He also attacked the Coalition for failing to complete and release a review instigated by former prime minister Scott Morrison to look into who within his government knew what and when.

It comes as Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg broke ranks with his party to call for an inquiry into how Ms Higgins’ private text messages were leaked, a call later backed by Liberal MP Bridget Archer.

Lawyers for Network Ten have asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate “a suspected contempt of court in relation to material produced under an AFP warrant and a subpoena issued in the ACT supreme court which appears to have been disclosed to the media”.

Mr Bragg said he believed the whole saga had been a “tawdry affair” and it was “hugely regrettable how it’s played out publicly”.

“I don’t know how these messages have been put into the public domain. I expect that there will be a proper investigation into that. Because I mean, why would anyone come forward with allegations of assault if this is the result?” he told ABC radio national.

Mr Bragg said there needed to be an inquiry to ensure a similar leak could not happen again.

“This is supposed to be a country which values the rule of law and proper process,” he said.

Originally published as Katy Gallagher faces questions in parliament over knowledge of Brittany Higgins rape allegation