Question Time: Scott Morrison awaits report into Brittany Higgins’ alleged rape

An investigation into which staff from the prime minister’s office knew about the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins is yet to report back to Scott Morrison.

Brittany Higgins was allegedly raped by a colleague in a ministerial office at Parliament House, Canberra. Picture: Jamila Toderas/Getty Images

Scott Morrison is yet to received a report of the investigation into who in his office knew about the shocking alleged rape of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins at Parliament House.

The prime minister tasked the head of his department and his former chief of staff Phil Gaetjens with conducting a probe.

But a month on, Mr Morrison has revealed the findings are yet to be handed down.

“I will report further once I have received that report,” Mr Morrison told the parliament on Wednesday.

“I’ve set out very clearly when my office learnt about the matters.”

Ms Higgins broke her silence in February alleging she was raped by a colleague in a ministerial office in March 2019.

Mr Morrison previously told the parliament his office first found out about the claims on February 12.

However, the prime minister himself did not find out until three days later when the claims were made public.

Alarming text messages obtained by The Australian confirm a staffer told Ms Higgins in April 2019 – two weeks after the alleged incident – that he had spoken to the Prime Minister’s office.

The prime minister has not committed to making the findings of the inquiry public.

Scott Morrison pictured during Question Time on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

In Question Time, Mr Morrison also left the door open when asked if Ms Higgins’ alleged rapist had met with ministers or staff after the incident occurred.

“In terms of the broader actions of the ministry, there is an incredible array of activity that goes on across the government and the sheer scale of what the member is asking, Mr Speaker, is not something that we can give a definite response to,” Mr Morrison said.

“We have looked into this matter Mr Speaker, and I have no information to suggest what the member suggests is true.”

The opposition also kept the heat on claims that the Prime Minister’s Office had sought to background journalists to undermine Ms Higgins’ loved ones.

But Mr Morrison, for the second day in a row, referred to an answer from Monday.

“I have no knowledge of that and I would never instruct that,” he said at the time.

The parliament also paid tribute to former Adelaide MP Chris Hurford, who died in November 2020.

Former Liberal speaker of the house Bronwyn Bishop, former Labor MP Peter Garrett and former South Australian parliamentary speaker Michael Atkinson were also in the public gallery.