Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Wong. On 4 June 2021 in a Senate committee hearing, when confronted about whether Senator Gallagher knew of allegations of an alleged assault before they became public, she said, "No-one had any knowledge. How dare you?" Over the last few days she has admitted in this chamber that she did know about the allegations before they became public and received information about them. Minister, will you ask Senator Gallagher to admit that she misled the Senate and to simply correct the record?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

NG (—) (): Again, I do not accept the assertions that the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate makes in that question. Senator Gallagher made a statement to the Senate this week and has been asked multiple questions. She has made clear what her knowledge was and has responded to, I think, basically the same question that Senator Birmingham has put to me today. She has responded to that directly. I would make a point here about respect, if I may. We seem to have forgotten, in this debate and in this chamber, about what actually occurred here. Those opposite seem unable to accept their own responsibilities and unable to accept that one of their own staff felt disrespected in her workplace. They seem to be unable to accept that she might have exercised her own agency and told her own story in her own voice. Now they compound that disrespect with the use of personal text messages and other confidential information being leaked to the media. I think the message that many Australians looking at this will take is that those opposite are willing—instead of accounting for their own actions—to punish those who speak out.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham, a first supplementary?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the same estimates committee hearing on 4 June when you and Senator Gallagher were continually asking questions about this very matter in the parliament, you also made the statement, 'I had no knowledge of this until that night.' Minister, will you simply correct the record?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I made clear in my statements to this place, and publicly, that I did not know the full details of Ms Higgins allegations until she chose to tell her story, and I have made clear that I and Senator Gallagher played no role in making this matter public, as was asserted by Senator Reynolds that night. Her assertion was incorrect.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham, a second supplementary?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, when did you first learn that the alleged victim was going to reveal her allegations to the media? Specifically, when did you learn that she would reveal those allegations to the media, and who did you discuss that information with, if you learnt it before they were revealed to the media?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer to my answers yesterday about this, and I again say that I did not know the full details of Ms Higgins allegations until she chose to tell her story in reports published on Monday 15 February. Also, to the best of my memory, I did not know her identity until after these reports. I had no contact with her, her partner or her supports.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I have a point of order on direct relevance. Yesterday, questions were asked, which the minister responded to, about the breadth of her knowledge or when she received information. Today, this is a very specific question that goes specifically to when she learned that the allegations would be revealed in the media. I ask the minister to be directly relevant to that question, which I repeated twice: to be very clear and specific about when she learned the allegations would be revealed in the media.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Birmingham. I believe the minister is being directly relevant to the question. I will invite her to continue, and I will continue to listen to her answer.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I would say is that there are those on the other side who knew a lot more a lot earlier. The question is—

I will take the interjection: 'It's not about us; it's about you'. The former Attorney-General has really been very clear about this: it's not about us, it's about you. That's what it is all about from those on that side. It's not about Ms Higgins. It's not about women who are watching—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On my left! Senator Ruston, I have just called the chamber to order and you have completely disrespected that request. Your constant interjections are disorderly. I am asking you to stop it.