An investigation into who in Scott Morrison’s inner circle knew about Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation has been on ice for nearly two years, with the Albanese government now responsible for resuming the inquiry.
Ministers, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have used the never-released report to deflect questions about suggestions Labor sought to weaponise the allegation while in opposition.
“There was of course an inquiry into what the Prime Minister’s office knew and when and who was told. We still have never seen the Gaetjens inquiry,” Mr Albanese said on Tuesday during a question time grilling.
Last Friday, the Prime Minister told Sunrise that “Peter Dutton needs to, if you want to be transparent, he needs to release or someone needs to release the Gaetjens report that we still have never seen”.
However, the report was halted in August 2021 before it could be finished, and a spokesman for the Prime Minister and Cabinet confirmed the inquiry did not restart after the federal election.
“It remains incomplete,” they said.
It’s understood that unless the Albanese government ordered the PM&C to pick up the investigation, it will remain unfinished.
The Prime Minister’s office was contacted for comment.
In 2021, Mr Morrison ordered the then-head of PM&C, Phil Gaetjens, to lead an inquiry in the days after the former Liberal staffer went public and made a police complaint.
After Bruce Lehrmann was charged, the inquiry was halted, with Mr Gaetjens citing concerns it “could prejudice criminal proceedings”.
Following the 2022 election, Mr Gaetjens was dumped by Labor as Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary.
Mr Lehrmann’s trial was aborted due to jury misconduct. In December, the charges were dropped and a retrial did not proceed due to concerns about Ms Higgins’ mental health.
He pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual assault. He has continually denied the allegation and there have been no findings made against him.
PM&C were not ordered to recommence the inquiry when criminal proceedings were finalised.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, who is facing a barrage of questions about her involvement following the publication of private texts between Ms Higgins and fiance David Sharaz, said the inquiry was one of the questions left “unanswered”.
“For example, the secret Gaetjens report, commissioned by the former prime minister, Mr Scott Morrison, that still hasn’t seen the light of day,” she said.
Senator Gallagher was forced to defend herself after leaked text messages suggested she had misled parliament in saying she did not know about Ms Higgins’ allegation before it was published on news.com.au.
She conceded she was aware of Ms Higgins’ allegation before it was made public, but did not weaponise it.
“I did nothing with that information, absolutely nothing. I was asked to keep it to myself and I did,” Senator Gallagher said.
“I wasn’t involved in any way with the story that went to air.”
Repeatedly asked to give further details later in question time, the Finance Minister declined.
“I’m not going to stand here and go through private conversations of a very, very difficult time in her life. A person who has had her privacy breached in the most egregious way over the last two years,” Senator Gallagher said.
When Mr Gaetjens suspended the inquiry in 2021, Labor said it “beggars belief” that the report had not been completed.
Earlier, the Prime Minister signalled he had no plans to open up a fresh inquiry.
“We need to be cognisant of the impact this is having on people,” he said at a caucus meeting according to a spokesman.
“People will make their own judgment on whether it is tenable that no one said anything to Scott Morrison in 2019 or 2020, especially during the campaign.
“We acted responsibly all the way through.”