The former staffer of embattled MP Alan Tudge who accused him of abuse has released the government from being barred by confidentiality from speaking about a financial settlement from the Commonwealth.
In a letter sent from her lawyers to the federal government, Rachelle Miller said she wished to remove any impediment to the government releasing details about her settlement, worth a reported $500,000.
Ms Miller accused Mr Tudge of emotional and physical abuse during a consensual affair between the pair, allegations which the MP has strenuously denied.
A review into the allegations found Mr Tudge did not breach ministerial standards, but the matter was settled between the government and Ms Miller.
While Prime Minister Scott Morrison has refused to answer questions about the confidential settlement, Ms Miller said she released the government from being bound by the confidentiality agreement.
“Ms Miller wishes to remove any impediment which prevents the prime minister from giving a full and truthful account of matters he now feels constrained to avoid answering on account of any legal obligation to Ms Miller,” the letter from her lawyers said.
“One of the recommendations of the Jenkins review was the discontinuance of so-called secret settlements. Our client is on record as supporting all of the Jenkins review recommendations.”
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins conducted a review of workplace culture in Parliament House and reported widespread accounts of bullying, harassment and allegations of assault.
The letter from Ms Miller’s lawyers also said details about the confidential settlement were likely leaked by the government, not due to Ms Miller or any of her lawyers disclosing the information.
“The leak has caused our client acute stress and embarrassment as well as significant harassment by the media which continues,” the letter said.
“In the context of the election campaign, our client sees no end to this harassment until the matter is satisfactorily addressed.”
The Department of Finance told AAP in a statement it is aware of Ms Miller’s correspondence and “takes its confidentiality obligations, on behalf of the Commonwealth, very seriously”.
A spokesperson for the department says it is common practice that the minister for finance is not briefed on the details of individual claims.
“Ms Miller’s claim has been handled in that manner and at arms-length from the Government,” the spokesperson said.
“The Department of Finance has not briefed any minister or minister’s office in relation to the details of this claim or its potential resolution.
“The Department of Finance does not comment on the details of any individual claim.”
Through Comcover, the department settles certain types of claims against the Commonwealth on behalf of most commonwealth entities.
This is done on behalf of the Commonwealth, not individuals in their personal capacity, the spokesperson said.
“Notwithstanding Ms Miller’s release of correspondence, the Department of Finance continues to manage Ms Miller’s claim, which has not been finalised, and does not intend to provide any further public comment on this matter.”
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham says he hasn’t been privy to the negotiations or briefed on the matter.
“I don’t have any information to disclose because I’ve not been part of the deliberation or negotiations,” he told the ABC.
“I have noted government ministers or politicians are not party to negotiations of settlements between former staff and government departments – they are handled at arm’s length from politicians as they should be.”
Mr Tudge stood down from cabinet in the wake of the allegations and last month indicated he would not seek to return to the frontbench.
However, Mr Morrison came under fire this week for saying Mr Tudge was still a part of the cabinet and would be “welcome to return in a full capacity at any point”.
