Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given his full support to Defence Minister Linda Reynolds.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
At the time,Ms Higgins’ boss Defence Minister Linda Reynolds encouraged her to go to police but the adviser ultimately decided not to pursue a formal complaint. Ms Higgins asked police on Wednesday to reopen the investigation.
“I cannot state strongly enough the importance of timely referrals of allegations of criminal conduct,” Mr Kershaw wrote in the letter to Mr Morrison. “Failure to report alleged criminal behaviour in this manner,or choosing to communicate or disseminate allegations via other means,such as through the media or third parties,risks prejudicing any subsequent police allegations.”
He encouraged MPs and their staff to contact the police for advice about appropriate processes.
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Mr Kershaw offered the advice after Mr Morrison requested guidance that all parliamentarians could use when complaints or allegations were made to them.
Earlier,Mr Morrison offered his full confidence for Senator Reynolds to continue as defence minister,saying she was doing a good job.
Senator Reynolds has come under pressure over her handling of Ms Higgins’ allegations. The ministerspent the night in a Canberra hospital after suffering a recurrence of a pre-existing medical condition that led her to contact her cardiologist and take medical leave.