A decision on stood-aside cabinet minister Alan Tudge has been delayed until federal officials review an investigation into his affair with a former press secretary, amid new rumours he will be dumped from the ministry before the election.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will wait for advice from one of his top public servants before taking any action on the senior Victorian Liberal, who stood aside from his position of education minister last December when new claims triggered the investigation.
Alan Tudge’s future as a minister won’t be decided for weeks.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
A senior government source with knowledge of the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the decision on Mr Tudge was not expected within days because Mr Morrison wanted advice on the matter from Stephanie Foster, the deputy secretary in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
“There is another chapter to go on this well before the PM makes up his mind,” the source said.
The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age revealed last weekend that Mr Tudge intended to stay in Parliament and contest his Melbourne seat of Aston, while his Victorian colleagues are split over his fate because of the risk of political damage to the government.
The nameplate outside Mr Tudge’s former ministerial office has been removed.
Mr Tudge took a leave of absence after his former media adviser, Rachelle Miller, accused him of being emotionally abusive and on one occasion physically abusive while the pair travelled together for work. Mr Tudge has denied the allegations.
The Prime Minister asked Vivienne Thom, a former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, to inquire into the matter but Ms Miller declined to participate.
Ms Foster is reviewing the Thom report to advise Mr Morrison on how much of the Thom report can be released to the public, given the Prime Minister has indicated he would prefer the document to be released.
The Ten Network reported on Tuesday night that part of the Thom report criticised Mr Tudge for promoting Ms Miller while they were in a relationship, creating grounds for him to lose his cabinet position.
Labor finance spokeswoman Katy Gallagher challenged the government in Senate estimates hearings on Tuesday night to declare whether the report was accurate and there were findings against Mr Tudge in the report.
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the matter was still being reviewed and said it was not “useful” or “helpful” to speculate on the contents of the reviews.
Mr Morrison’s office rejected the claim that a decision had already been made to dump Mr Tudge.
“The matter is still in process and is being undertaken without prejudice to ensure it is dealt with fairly,” a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said.
Ms Foster told a Senate estimates hearing this week that she wanted to hear from Mr Tudge and Ms Miller before a decision on releasing the report and balancing the public interest and personal confidentiality.
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