Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has lodged a formal complaint with the Prime Minister's Office, accusing its staff of spreading rumours about her partner.
Key points:
- Brittany Higgins has sent a formal complaint to the Prime Minister's chief of staff
- She says sources at three separate news outlets told her about the alleged backgrounding
- Ms Higgins also said she wanted to give evidence as part of a probe into who knew what about the rape allegation
Ms Higgins, who alleges she was raped by a former colleague in a ministerial office two years ago, said she was told by journalists that "backgrounding" was occurring.
Backgrounding refers to the practice of briefing journalists with information that the source, including from a political office, does not want attributed to them.
The complaint was addressed to John Kunkel, the Prime Minister's chief of staff, and was prompted by an interview with Scott Morrison on the AM program on Thursday morning.
"In the days following my interview with The Project regarding my experience in Parliament House, I was made aware by numerous journalists about the backgrounding that was happening against my partner," Ms Higgins wrote.
"This was reported to me personally by various sources at News.com.au, the Daily Telegraph and Channel 10."
Ms Higgins said it was also referenced by Channel 10 journalist Peter Van Onselen during an ABC program.
When asked this morning whether any of the staff in his office had spread information intended to smear Ms Higgins's partner, Mr Morrison said nothing had been raised with his office about the issue.
"No-one — there has been no-one in the [press] gallery — nothing has been raised with my office from anyone in the gallery making any of those accusations," he said.
"Or any discomfort about anything that my office has done.
"People make allegations all the time second, third hand, but there's no-one who has raised that with my chief of staff out of the gallery, no."
Speaking in Question Time later today, Mr Morrison said he was aware of the letter and would respond to Ms Higgins today.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on radio this morning no journalists had raised any issues with his office.(
ABC News: Matt Roberts
)
In her letter, Ms Higgins said she believed it was possible Mr Morrison did not know the alleged backgrounding was happening, but "the more relevant point is that it did occur".
"I believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt," she said.
Ms Higgins also noted that the head of the Prime Minister's department, Phil Gaetjens, who has been tasked with looking into who in Mr Morrison's office knew what and when about the rape allegation, had not contacted her.
"It is my express desire to present my evidence to Mr Gaetjens at the appropriate time once the review recommences," she said.
Mr Gaetjens's revealed earlier this week his review has been put on holdwhile a police investigation into the matter proceeded.
