Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton was tipped off by AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw to the allegation that Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins was raped in Parliament House on February 11 under “sensitive investigation” disclosure guidelines because she contacted police six days earlier.
News.com.au understands that Ms Higgins unwittingly triggered the process when she contacted the AFP after she quit her job on February 5 to signal she was considering reopening the investigation.
But what she didn’t know was that by signalling to police she may reignite the politically explosive allegations she was raped at Parliament House was that the AFP were duty bound to inform the Home Affairs Minister under new guidelines.
Ms Higgins spoke to police in Canberra around February 5 to tell them she was considering reopening the investigation but did not say she had made her mind up.
Regardless, her inquiry immediately triggered sensitive investigation guidelines given they could prove politically explosive.
The AFP then held a Special Investigations Board meeting on February 11 that was chaired by AFP deputy commissioner Investigations Ian McArtney.
Mr Dutton was informed of the rape allegation on the same day under the guidelines.
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Mr Dutton revealed for the first time today that he was informed of the alleged rape on February 11, just 24 hours before news.com.au lodged questions with the Prime Minister’s office.
He did not alert the Prime Minister’s office and Scott Morrison said even his office did not tell him until the story broke online at 8 am on Monday, February 15.
An AFP “sensitive investigation” is a process of inquiry that: involves, or is likely to impact on and/or be of significant interest to Australia’s international relationships or agreements, the operation or administration of the federal government or parliament, or a state, territory, local or foreign government or parliament, an elected member, associate or staff member of an elected member, election candidate, senior or prominent member of a public service entity, of a federal, state, territory, local or foreign government or parliament, a professional journalist or news media organisation or possibly would be, of significant interest to the Australian community
It also needs to be declared to be a sensitive investigation by the AFP Commissioner.
The AFP National Guideline on sensitive investigations outlines the policy on “sensitive investigations”.
“The AFP operates in a complex and challenging environment to perform functions as set out in s. 8 of the AFP Act. The AFP at times conducts investigations which can be defined as a sensitive investigation,’’ it states.
“These investigations can significantly affect: Australia’s national reputation, international relationships, economy or environment, the operation or administration of an Australian or foreign government or agency, legislature or judiciary, political or public policy through increased, prolonged or ongoing public or political discourse.
“Due to their nature or the operating environment, some sensitive investigations require additional oversight.”
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The Prime Minister has consistently maintained that his office didn’t know about the allegation until news.com.au contacted his media team for comment at 2:30pm on Friday, February 12.
However, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds knew in March, 2019 and didn’t tell him and the Employment Minister Michaelia Cash learned on February 5, 2021 in an exit interview and also didn’t tell him.
“As I’ve stated in the house previously, as far as I’m aware, the only minister who had knowledge of an alleged sexual assault in relation to this matter was Minister Reynolds,’’ Mr Morrison told Parliament today.
However, not long after he gave that answer in question time today Mr Dutton dropped the bombshell news that he was alerted on February 11.
“Was advised on 11 February and I received updates last week and this week,” he replied.
Mr Dutton’s press secretary Nicole Chant has refused to answer questions or return calls on when he knew for 24 hours prior to Mr Dutton offering his 14-word response in question time.
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Scott Morrison warned Labor today they should not forget that allegations of sexual harassment are not confined to the Liberal Party.
“Once again, the leader of the opposition can come to this dispatch box and he can seek to state these matters and seek to pointscore on them but the issue that is here is the issue that we all must address,‘’ he said.
“These as we know, are not confined to any one side of politics in this building. We know this to be the case.”
In Parliament, Labor‘s Tanya Plibersek said it was a cover up.
“This minister is running I don’t ask don’t tell of cover-ups,‘’ she said.
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds remains on medical leave after a cardiologist ordered her to be admitted to hospital on Tuesday night.
In the Senate, her friend and housemate Senator Jane Hume blamed Labor for the pre-existing condition shouting across the dispatch box “Haven’t you done enough!” and Labor’s Penny Wong as she wished Senator Reynolds a speedy recovery.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiqAFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC9wb2xpdGljcy9icml0dGFueS1oaWdnaW5zLXBldGVyLWR1dHRvbi10aXBwZWQtb2ZmLWFib3V0LXJhcGUtYWxsZWdhdGlvbnMtYmVmb3JlLXN0b3J5LWJyb2tlL25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvNGZhOWE2ZDQzYTgyMjNiMGVkMzA2Y2EyZjkxY2ExZDPSAagBaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAubmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvcG9saXRpY3MvYnJpdHRhbnktaGlnZ2lucy1wZXRlci1kdXR0b24tdGlwcGVkLW9mZi1hYm91dC1yYXBlLWFsbGVnYXRpb25zLWJlZm9yZS1zdG9yeS1icm9rZS9uZXdzLXN0b3J5LzRmYTlhNmQ0M2E4MjIzYjBlZDMwNmNhMmY5MWNhMWQz?oc=5
2021-02-24 07:52:19Z
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