Alan Tudge says he plans to return to the frontbench, grilled on Rachelle Miller payout
Missing MP Alan Tudge has revealed his plans for a return to the frontbench and denied knowledge of a $500k government payout to his former lover.
Education Minister Alan Tudge has broken his silence on plans to return to the frontbench revealing he is “unaware” why the Liberal staffer he had an extramarital affair with is negotiating a $500,000 compensation deal.
The elusive Member for Aston has refused media interviews for the duration of the campaign but was tracked down by Sky News today at a pre-poll booth in Melbourne.
Reporter Jessica Maggio asked Mr Tudge why, if he had been cleared of wrongdoing, taxpayers could face a $500,000 compensation claim from his former staffer Rachelle Miller.
Despite two workplace inquiries that did not make findings against him, Ms Miller’s lawyers have continued to negotiate a separate compensation deal with the Department of Finance.
“As the Prime Minister said, he is unaware. I am unaware. It’s a matter for the Department of Finance,’’ Mr Tudge said.
He also said he had never been interviewed as part of the new compensation claim.
“I’m not aware of any of those things. I have no information. I haven’t been called as a witness,’’ Mr Tudge revealed.
“I haven’t been asked to provide evidence and as the prime minister said, if it involves me, he would have been made aware and he hasn’t been made aware.”
Mr Tudge was also grilled on Ms Miller’s claim that she wanted to disclose during a security clearance check that the pair had an affair when she was working in his office.
The cabinet minister urged Ms Miller not to describe their dalliance as a relationship.
Mr Tudge, who maintained he did not have sexual intercourse with Ms Miller, does concede the couple were “intimate” and that they spent time together naked in bed during her employment.
Asked if he told Ms Miller not to disclose the relationship during the security clearance check he said that wasn’t correct.
“Well, I didn’t do that. I asked her to tell the truth,’’ he said.
Mr Tudge also confirmed that he was keen to return to the frontbench if the Liberal Party won the election.
“I stood down from being the Education Minister some months ago now, for family, for health reasons and to concentrate on my electorate,’’ he said.
“The Prime Minister has made clear that should we be re-elected and I am in a position to step back up, I will be,’’ he said.
“Stuart Robert is the Education Minister at the moment.”
News.com.au revealed this week that Mr Tudge has declined to produce evidence that he ever informed former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office when he transferred a million dollar property raising questions over whether he breached the ministerial code.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has conceded that Mr Tudge was “late” to update parliament about offloading the $1 million property to his estranged wife in July, 2018.
Under parliamentary rules, Mr Tudge had 28 days to update parliament after the property was transferred on July 5, 2018, but instead took six months before he updated his records in January, 2019.
However, under the ministerial code of conduct, cabinet ministers must also update the Prime Minister’s office on major changes in assets.
News.com.au has put questions to Mr Tudge and the Liberal Party since last Friday over whether or not the requirements were met at the time and for evidence that the paperwork was lodged.
In response, Mr Tudge has not provided any documents and Mr Turnbull’s office said it had no records or recollections that this ever occurred.
“Mr Tudge acknowledges that in 2019 he was late in updating his interests to the House following his separation from his wife,’’ a Liberal campaign spokesman said.
“Mr Tudge acknowledges the importance of updating the register in a timely manner.”
The statement does not stipulate if Mr Tudge updated the register as required by August 1, 2018, within 28 days of the property transfer.
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Asked if Mr Tudge was in breach of the ministerial guidelines the Prime Minister insisted he was not in breach of the ministerial code.
“No, he’s not,’’ he said.
“He updated those arrangements consistent with the code. They were late on the other registers. He is in compliance.”
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