Former Liberal staffer Rachelle Miller has said the story of her experiences working in politics have been “silenced, ignored and denied”.
“I spoke out to use my experience as a staffer as an example of how toxic the world of politics had become,” Miller wrote in a thread on Twitter on Wednesday night. “To shed light on the reality of a glamourised world of power and privilege. And yet somehow, along the way, my story has been silenced, ignored and denied…”
Miller accused Liberal MP Alan Tudge of emotional abuse and on one occasion, physically abusive behaviour, while they were in a consensual relationship in 2017.
Last year, Tudge was forced to stand aside while an inquiry was undertaken into Miller’s allegations. Tudge denied the allegations and no evidence was presented to the inquiry that would have led to a finding that he breached ministerial standards.
Miller did not participate in the inquiry, noting she thought the process was not fair or independent.
It’s also been reported by The Saturday Paper more recently that Miller has made a separate allegation, in a workplace harassment suit, that another Liberal politician sexually harassed her more than a decade ago. This politician is still in parliament.
Reportedly, Miller is settling the workplace claim with the government, and is expected to receive a $500,000 payout, a figure that has been confirmed by multiple news outlets.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has refused to reveal the details of the taxpayer funded payout, despite Miller clearing the federal government of any confidentiality clause.
“I’ve been constrained from telling it due to legal processes that I pursued for some semblance of justice, but yet demand secrecy. How on earth do we achieve change when most don’t even know what is wrong? This protects perpetrators and leaves victims more silenced & traumatised,” Miller continued on Twitter.
“Victims know they are challenging people who are powerful, with powerful connections and pro-bono QC’s on standby. What chance has someone like me got? My first experience of sexual assault in parliament I was an electorate officer to a backbench MP. I was earning about $60k…
“So proud to even have a job where I got to work in Parliament House. I also had a family to support. @ScottMorrisonMP talks about his captain’s pick Katherine Deves and her “right to be heard”. She only has that protection to spew bigotry because the votes she attracts HE needs…
“What about my right, a Liberal Party member & staffer for ten years, to be heard? What about Brittany’s right to be heard? All the silent women? We are furious. And you will hear, on the day after election, when you lose power and no one cares what you say anymore!”
Last week it was revealed that Alan Tudge “technically” remains a member of the federal cabinet, despite having stood aside from his education portfolio last year amid the inquiry. Morrison said Tudge is still formally the education minister, because he still has a warrant from the Governor-General.
Morrison also said Tudge would be welcome to return to the role if he wanted to. “I look forward to him returning because what he’s been doing in education has been very important,” Morrison said.