Former Coalition staffer Rachelle Miller has received a taxpayer-funded $650,000 “no admissions” settlement for loss and damages suffered while working for former cabinet ministers Alan Tudge and Michaelia Cash.
Tudge and Senator Cash have denied claims that Miller was mistreated or bullied during her employment in the cabinet minister’s office or during her extramarital affair with Tudge sometime between August 2016 and July 2018.
The settlement, which the government admits no liability or fault, includes $300,000 for “hurt, distress, humiliation, dislocation of life, loss of professional standing and impairment of personal dignity”, $150,000 for Miller’s legal costs, minor medical expenses and past earning capacity and $100,000 for lost future earning capacity.
The deed of release states that “the parties agree that the settlement sum and terms of this deed are not confidential,” enabling Miller to speak out about the settlement.
Miller announced the settlement, pleading for politicians to implement the findings of last year’s parliamentary workplace culture report.
In a letter to parliamentarians released overnight, Miller said her experience of making a formal complaint was, “frankly, horrendous, and left me more traumatised than when I began it.”
“It grieves me that without expert legal assistance, many victims are unable to navigate the current complaints system which is neither fair nor independent, protects offending parliamentarians and exacerbates the power imbalance,” she wrote.
“Taxpayers have a right to know about the outcomes of complaints made against elected officials, particularly if a settlement was paid. My case has settled without a Non-Disclosure Agreement which is a significant breakthrough for transparency, and a huge step forward for victims.”
“The silencing of victims who are paid settlement amounts to compensate for their traumatic experiences … is a fundamental reason this toxic culture has remained hidden for so long,” Miller wrote.
“It is in the spirit of transparency that I have spoken to the media about the settlement.”
Last December, Tudge said he “categorically rejects” the allegations, adding, “I rejected Ms Miller’s previous allegations, which I was cleared of by two independent inquiries.”
Miller worked as Tudge’s press secretary during his role as human services minister in the Turnbull government.
Miller exposed their extramarital in the November 2020 Four Corners episode Inside the Canberra Bubble.
In December 2021, she alleged her affair with Tudge had been abusive. In the same month, Tudge said, “Ms Miller and I had a consensual affair in 2017, as both of us have publicly acknowledged. This is something I deeply regret.”