Inside the sealed report into who in the Coalition knew about Brittany Higgins’ rape claims

An investigation into who in Scott Morrison’s inner circle knew about Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation has been stalled for nearly two years, with the Albanian government now responsible for resuming the investigation.

Ministers, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have used the never-released report to deflect questions over suggestions Labor was trying to arm against the accusation while in opposition.

“There was, of course, an inquiry into what the Prime Minister’s office knew and when and to whom it was told. We still haven’t seen the Gaetjens investigation,” Albanese said during question time on Tuesday.

Last Friday, the Prime Minister told Sunrise that ‘Peter Dutton, if you want to be transparent, release the Gaetjens report that we’ve never seen or release someone else’.

However, the report was halted in August 2021 before it could be finalized, and a spokesman for the Prime Minister and Cabinet confirmed that the investigation was not restarted after the federal election.

Former PM&C secretary Phil Gaetjens (pictured) was tasked with leading the investigation, but it was dropped when Bruce Lehrmann was indicted. After the 2022 election, Mr Gaetjens was dumped by Labor as PM&C secretary

“It remains incomplete,” they said.

It is clear that unless the Albanian government directs the PM&C to take up the investigation, it will remain unfinished.

The Prime Minister’s office has been contacted for comment.

In 2021, Mr Morrison ordered the then head of PM&C, Phil Gaetjens, to lead an investigation in the days after the former Liberal staffer came out and complained to the police.

After Bruce Lehrmann was charged, the investigation was dropped, with Mr Gaetjens expressing concern that it could ‘damage criminal proceedings’.

After the 2022 election, Gaetjens was dumped by Labor as Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary.

Mr. Lehrmann’s trial was aborted due to jury misconduct. In December, charges were dropped and no new trial was forthcoming due to concerns over Ms Higgins’ mental health.

He pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual assault. He has consistently denied the allegation and no findings have been made against him.

PM&C was not ordered to resume the investigation once the criminal proceedings had been completed.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Katy Gallagher, faced with a barrage of questions about her involvement following the publication of private texts between Ms Higgins and fiancé David Sharaz, said the inquiry was one of the questions that was ‘unanswered’.

“For example, the secret Gaetjens report, commissioned by former Prime Minister Mr Scott Morrison, which has still not seen the light of day,” she said.

Faced with a barrage of questions about her involvement following the publication of private texts between Ms Higgins and her fiancé David Sharaz, Chancellor of the Exchequer Katy Gallagher (pictured) said the Gaetjens inquiry was one of the questions that remain ‘unanswered’ ‘ used to be.

While defending herself, Gallagher made it a point to say that the Gaetjens report, commissioned by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured), still hasn’t seen the light of day

Senator Gallagher had to defend herself after leaked text messages suggested she misled parliament by saying she was unaware of Ms Higgins’ claim before it was published on news.com.au.

She admitted she was aware of Ms Higgins’ allegation before it was made public, but did not make a gun of it.

“I did nothing with that information, nothing at all. I was asked to keep it to myself and I did,” said Senator Gallagher.

“I was in no way involved in the story that aired.”

Senator Gallagher admitted she was aware of Ms. Higgins’ allegation before it was made public, but did not make a gun of it. (Pictured: Brittany Higgins out of court in October 2022)

Repeatedly asked to provide further details later in Question Time, the Finance Minister declined.

“I’m not going to stand here and have private conversations about a very, very difficult time in her life. A person who has had her privacy violated in the most egregious way in the past two years,” said Senator Gallagher.

When Mr Gaetjens suspended the inquiry in 2021, Labor said it was ‘unbelievable’ that the report had not been completed.

Earlier, the prime minister said he had no plans to open a new investigation.

“We need to be aware of the impact this has on people,” he said at a caucus meeting, according to a spokesperson.

“People will judge for themselves whether it is tenable that no one said anything to Scott Morrison in 2019 or 2020, especially during the campaign.

“We acted responsibly all along.”