‘Cast a pall’: Project host Lisa Wilkinson’s outrage spills over

The Project host Lisa Wilkinson expressed her dismay and became visibly frustrated on Sunday night’s show as she took an MP to task.

Kate Schneider

2 min read

April 18, 2022 - 12:58PM

Project host Lisa Wilkinson’s outrage spills over

She kicked off the segment all smiles, but it wasn’t long before The Project host Lisa Wilkinson’s outrage spilled over on Sunday night’s show as she took an MP to task.

During the interview with Liberal Senator Jane Hume, Wilkinson questioned the secrecy shrouding the compensation deal with Alan Tudge’s former staffer and lover Rachelle Miller.

It comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated earlier today that the government will not reveal the details of the taxpayer-funded payout, that’s despite Miller’s decision to release it from any confidentiality requirements.

“This is taxpayer money that is being paid out,” Wilkinson said. “Shouldn’t voters as we head into this election know who that other MP is (who’s involved in the situation) and what’s been alleged before they cast their vote at the ballot box?”

Hume responded: “My understanding Lisa, and I should make very clear that no minister, no member of the government is privy to any claims that are made to Comcare by anyone … anything we say is simply speculation.

“It’s really important that those conversations or any claim made with Comcare, which let’s face it is a worker’s compensation claim, remain private. And that’s the way it should be.”

Not satisfied with her answer, veteran TV presenter Ray Martin jumped in with: “Half a million dollars of taxpayers money, shouldn’t we have the right to know?”

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Lisa Wilkinson and Ray Martin talked politics on The Project.

Hume stood firm.

“Whatever the situation is that has given rise to those claims is between Comcare and between Rachelle Miller. No minister, no member of the government has any eyes in to what it is that that claim has been about.”

Now, it was a clearly unimpressed co-host Hamish Macdonald’s turn to join in: “So the public doesn’t deserve to know, we should vote at this election with no knowledge of who this person is what they did.”

To which Wilkinson injected: “Which does cast a pall over all Liberal MPs who are standing right now.”

Lisa Wilkinson and Hamish Macdonald were not impressed.

Hume wasn’t impressed, nor was Wilkinson, with her sighs audible as Hume continued.

“Well I think that that’s unreasonable, we know the report has exonerated Alan Tudge of any wrongdoing,” Hume said. “Whatever this claim is about is between Rachelle Miller and between her Comcare claim.”

Wilkinson said: “And half a million dollars worth of taxpayer funds, senator -”

Hume interjected: “This happens all the time, you know Lisa -”

Next it was Wilksinson’s turn to interrupt: “Well that’s really sad.”