Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I had a professional relationship with Mr Sharaz, as I presume many in this place did, because he worked in this place as well for some time. That is the extent of it. In terms of where this is getting to now, I would appreciate it if people would think about the impact that it's having on women. I have been inundated with calls from women's organisations and from women themselves who are concerned about how this debate is going to impact on women making choices about their own safety. You may be able to live with your conscience on that, but I can't live with mine. So my responsibility is to stand up and say—I'm happy to answer questions like Ms Henderson has asked—it was a professional relationship with a journalist that I knew when I was in the ACT, and I came across him when he was working here when I moved up to the Senate. That is the extent of that. I expect that relationship exists for a number of senators around this place.