Question Time: Scott Morrison grilled for being in the dark over alleged rape at Parliament House

Scott Morrison has been questioned about why he didn’t know about a Liberal staffer being allegedly raped inside Parliament House.

Scott Morrison has been grilled by the opposition after he revealed he only found out about shocking rape allegations the day it went public.

Young Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins broke her silence this week, claiming she was raped by a colleague at Parliament House in 2019.

Labor spokesperson for women, Tanya Plibersek, took to the dispatch box during Question Time on Tuesday to probe the prime minister on the timeline.

“Brittany Higgins says that the Prime Minister’s principal secretary was aware that she had been sexually assaulted in the Defence Minister’s office soon after the reported assault in March 2019,” she said.

“When and how did the Prime Minister first become aware of the reported sexual assault of Brittany Higgins?”

But Mr Morrison said he only became aware of the alleged incident about 8.30am on Monday.

“That is when I became aware of it,” he said.

“The first that my office became aware of an alleged sexual assault, I’m advised, was on … 12 February, 2021.”

Scott Morrison said he spoke with his wife, Jenny, about the incident and she encouraged him to think of his daughters. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

But Ms Plibersek said the answer contradicted Ms Higgins’ recollection.

“That is my information,” Mr Morrison said, adding he would request Ms Higgins’ recent request for her privacy to be respected.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese also demanded to know if Mr Morrison still had confidence in his Defence Minister, Senator Linda Reynolds, who knew about the event involving her two staff members in 2019.

“Yes, I do,” he said.

“The Defence Minister … was seeking to provide support to Brittany in those circumstances, and had exercised judgment in relation to protecting her privacy.

“That judgment on that, of course, is being called into question. And that issue, Mr Speaker, I think will carry with it some important lessons.

“This is a shattering incident … and we are taking it very, very seriously.”

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Curtain MP Celia Hammond has offered to help Scott Morrison identify how the culture could be improved. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

But Mr Albanese was quick to ask why the prime minister maintained confidence in her, when he said he was not informed about the incident.

“Brittany, I understand, chose not to make a statement to police about this matter,” Mr Morrison told the parliament.

“But the minister, I understand, encouraged her to make a statement to the police about this matter.

“No party has a mortgage on this type of behaviour and so let us address it together.”