Election 2022: I’ll be back in my old job if we win, says Alan Tudge

Alan Tudge has broken his silence to claim Scott Morrison has ‘made clear’ he will regain his place on the frontbench if the Coalition is re-elected on May 21.

Stood-aside education minister Alan Tudge. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Stood-aside education minister Alan Tudge has broken his silence to claim Scott Morrison has “made clear” he will regain his place on the frontbench if the Coalition is re-elected on May 21.

Mr Tudge, who stood down from the frontbench after facing serious allegations he emotionally and one time physically abused his former staffer Rachelle Miller while the pair were in a consensual relationship, said he was “unaware” of why Ms Miller was receiving a $500,000 payout from the commonwealth.

The allegations were denied by Mr Tudge and he was also cleared by a probe that found insufficient evidence to substantiate Ms Miller’s claims.

“As the Prime Minister said, he’s unaware (of the reason for the $500,000 payout). I’m unaware. It’s a matter for the Department of Finance,” Mr Tudge told Sky News on Tuesday.

“I’m not aware of any of those things. I have no information. I haven’t been called as a witness. I haven’t been asked to provide evidence. And as the Prime Minister said, if it involved me, he would have been made aware and hasn’t been made aware.”

Mr Tudge denied trying to persuade Ms Miller to lie on her commonwealth security clearance, instead insisting he had contacted his former staffer urging her to “tell the truth”.

The reason for Ms Miller’s $500,000 payout plus legal costs has remained a mystery, with senior Morrison ministers saying they were in the dark about the circumstances surrounding the sum.

Despite being sidelined since Ms Miller’s allegations were made, Mr Tudge has technically remained in cabinet and said he would return to the Coalition ministry if the Morrison government regained power on May 21.

“Well, the Prime Minister has made clear that should we be re-elected and I’m in a position to step back up, then I’ll do so,” he said.