‘Simply untrue’: Scott Morrison’s claim completely rejected by News Corp boss

The News Corp boss has completely rejected Scott Morrison’s “extraordinary” claim made during a fiery press conference today.

News Corp Australasia chairman Michael Miller has completely rejected Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s “simply untrue” claim that an employee had been the subject of an internal sexual harassment complaint.

Mr Morrison made the extraordinary claim during a tense exchange with Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell at a press conference on Tuesday, where the PM addressed the sexual harassment and assault crisis engulfing the government.

But Mr Miller said the PM’s claim was “wrong”.

“Prime Minister Scott Morrison was wrong today to claim an investigation is under way into a complaint accusing an employee of harassment against a woman in a female toilet,” Mr Miller said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

“No complaint has been received and News Corp and Sky News are not dealing with a complaint. News Corp and Sky News take seriously any issues raised by staff and our utmost priority is to respect their privacy and confidentiality. This is standard business practice and because of this, we do not normally comment on private matters.

“However given the Prime Minister’s extraordinary public claims made at a press conference broadcast live across the nation, I want to put to rest any suggestion that an employee of our company is being investigated for conduct suggested by Mr Morrison.”

During today’s press conference, Clennell questioned whether Mr Morrison had “lost control” of his ministerial staff after revelations on Monday of lewd behaviour by Coalition staffers, including one who performed a sex act on a female MP’s desk.

“Your job would probably be in a bit of jeopardy wouldn’t it?” Clennell asked. “Doesn’t it look like you have lost control of your ministerial staff?”

The PM hit back by suggesting people in “glass houses” should “be careful”.

Scott Morrison’s claims during a press conference on Tuesday have been completely rejected by News Corp.

“I will let you editorialise as you like, but if anyone in this room wants to offer up the standards in their own work places as comparison I would invite you to do so,” he said.

Clennell replied, “They seem better than what is in yours.”

Mr Morrison said, “Let me take you up on that. Right now, you would be aware that in your own organisation that there is a person who has had a complaint made against them for harassment of a woman in a women’s toilet. And that matter is being pursued by your own HR department.”

“I am not aware of it,” Clennell said.

Mr Morrison said, “You are not aware of it. So let’s not all of us who sit in glass houses here start getting into that. It’s about taking responsibility. What I am suggesting to you is that there are serious issues here that no single individual can overwatch on every single inch of this place every second of the day. I don’t think any Australian has that reasonable expectation.”

But Mr Miller said it was not an incident of a “sexual nature” and did not take place in a toilet.

“In recent weeks, following the reporting of matters of sexually inappropriate behaviour at Parliament House, our HR team proactively gave our staff the opportunity to talk to us in confidence about their well-being. I thank those who did so,” he said.

“During these proactive conversations, News Corp’s HR team learned of a verbal exchange between two News Corp employees in Parliament House in Canberra last year. The exchange was about a workplace-related issue, it was not of a sexual nature, it did not take place in a toilet and neither person made a complaint.

“Following those inquiries, our HR team wrote to one of the people involved and the matter was resolved.

“The Prime Minister appears to have joined these two matters and conflated them into an episode of harassment in a toilet that is under current investigation. This is simply untrue and it undermines the principle that people must be able to raise issues safely and in confidence.

“News Corp has no further statements to make on this matter.”

News Corp is the publisher of news.com.au.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison during Question Time on Tuesday. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

During the press conference today, Mr Morrison said the alleged sex act in a female MP’s office happened before he was PM.

“As far as I’m aware, the incident that was reported last night occurred long before I was Prime Minister of this place,” he said.

“So it is not a matter that occurred while I was even Prime Minister. That goes to a longstanding culture of despicable behaviour in this place.

“That is not something that I could be directly held accountable (for) even when I wasn’t in the role. When I am held accountable is what I do nowadays, what I am outlining to you today. You are free to make your criticisms and to stand on that pedestal, but be careful.”

Clennell later slammed Mr Morrison on-air for the comment, saying the PM had a “glass jaw”.

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller.

During Question Time on Tuesday, Labor’s Tanya Plibersek challenged the PM about his comment.

“Is it any wonder victims of sexual assault and harassment in this building and around Australia are afraid of coming forward when the Prime Minister of this country uses a confidential complaint in a nationally televised media conference as a way to try to stop journalists asking questions about these important issues?” she said.

Mr Morrison claimed that was “not what I was doing”.

“I was making the broader point that the matters we are dealing with in this place and all of us in this place, all members have responsibility for getting this House in order when it comes to these issues,” he said.

Speaking to ABC News 24 later in the afternoon, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull accused Mr Morrison of weaponising an alleged complaint.

“What he is doing to Andrew Clennell is the same he has done in the House to (Labor leader) Anthony Albanese, which is essentially threatening them and saying that if you raise issues about wrongdoing in the Coalition, what about the wrongdoings of the Labor side or in the media companies?” he said.

Mr Turnbull said it was a “diversion”.

“The problem is, constantly reminding other people that they live in glass houses does not absolve you of the responsibility of addressing the problems in your own house,” he said.

“And so what I am looking for, and I think millions of Australians are looking for and I am sure millions of Australian women are looking for is for the government to take responsibility, to be accountable, to address the issue and take action.”

Mr Turnbull said the PM had “presumably heard about” a “completely confidential matter” from someone but “he decided just to weaponise it, and the message there is exactly the same message delivered to Labor – if you come out and have a go at us, we have got stuff on you”.

“That is so wrong,” he said.