Jamie Briggs employed as an adviser to the federal Liberal Party

A former South Australian MP has been hired as an adviser by the federal Liberal Party, nine years after he resigned his ministerial role due to complaints of inappropriate behaviour.

Jamie Briggs has been hired as an adviser by the federal Liberal Party. Picture: Keryn Stevens

A former South Australian MP and federal minister has been hired as an adviser by the federal Liberal Party, nine years after he stepped down from a frontbench role after complaints of inappropriate behaviour towards a female public servant.

The Advertiser understands Jamie Briggs has been appointed a chief adviser for the Liberal Party, as it gears up to contest the as yet unannounced federal election.

But the Opposition Leader’s office would not comment on the appointment, insisting Mr Briggs was not employed by Mr Dutton.

Pressed as to whether Mr Briggs was employed in an advisory role, Mr Dutton’s office said they “were unable to speak to what Mr Briggs might be employed to do” and that since he was working for the Liberal Party, they would not comment on his appointment.

Former minister Jamie Briggs stepped down from his frontbench role after a female public servant made a complaint about his behaviour during a night out in Hong Kong. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas.

Mr Briggs is currently the corporate affairs leader at Scyne Advisory – a public sector focused advisory firm.

He made headlines in 2015 when he stepped down from his role as the Minister for Cities and the Built Environment – within Malcolm Turnbull’s government – after a female public servant made a complaint about his behaviour during a night out in Hong Kong.

In his resignation speech, Mr Briggs explained that he and his chief of staff went to dinner, inviting several other officials, of which one was a female public servant.

“At the conclusion of the dinner … we went to a popular … very crowded bar for drinks, during which we interacted between the three of us and with others, in what I believed at the time was an informal manner,” he said.

“At the conclusion of the evening, the public servant left to return home, and my chief of staff and I returned to a hotel together.”

Mr Briggs noted nothing illegal was alleged to have transpired, however he apologised to the female public servant noting “after careful reflection about the concerns she raised and the fact that I was at a bar late at night, while on an overseas visit, I’ve concluded that this behaviour has not met the particularly high standards for ministers”.

After publicly stating that he’d chosen not to name the woman to “protect her privacy’’, Mr Briggs confirmed that he had sent a pixelated photograph of the 26-year-old, “to a few people prior to the complaint and following’’.

The image ended up on the front page of The Weekend Australian, but the former minister denied leaking the image.

Mr Briggs was elected to the seat of Mayo in 2008, losing in 2016 to then Nick Xenophon Team candidate Rebekha Sharkie.

Mr Briggs was contacted for comment.

The Prime Minister’s Office was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Jamie Briggs employed as an adviser to the federal Liberal Party