Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by whitelisting our website.

Federal election 2022: Lisa Wilkinson erupts over Rachelle Miller compensation deal 

Federal election 2022: Lisa Wilkinson erupts over Rachelle Miller compensation deal  2

Lisa Wilkinson has unleashed her fury as she weighed into the debate over Rachelle Miller’s taxpayer-funded compensation payout.

The former staffer and mistress of embattled minister Alan Tudge is set to receive a reported a $500,000 payout from the federal government after alleged complaints about him and another Liberal MP.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated on Sunday details of the payout won’t be publicly released, despite Ms Miller releasing the federal government from being barred by confidentiality from speaking about a financial settlement.

It sparked outrage from Wilkinson, who had tough questions for Liberal Senator Jane Hume in a fiery interview on Sunday night’s episode of The Project.

The program co-host believes Australians have a right to know more details about the settlement before heading to the polls on May 21, sparking a war of words with the senator. 

Former Liberal party staffer Rachelle Miller (pictured right with Alan Tudge) has released the federal government from being barred by confidentiality from speaking about her payout

Former Liberal party staffer Rachelle Miller (pictured right with Alan Tudge) has released the federal government from being barred by confidentiality from speaking about her payout

‘This is taxpayer money that is being paid out,’ Wilkinson said. 

‘Shouldn’t voters, as we head into this election, know who that other MP is (who’s involved in the situation) and what’s been alleged before they cast their vote at the ballot box?’

Hume believed the details of the payout should remain private. 

‘My understanding Lisa, and I should make very clear that no minister, no member of the government is privy to any claims that are made to Comcare by anyone … anything we say is simply speculation.

‘It’s really important that those conversations or any claim made with Comcare, which let’s face it is a worker’s compensation claim, remain private. And that’s the way it should be.’ 

Wilkinson’s unimpressed co-hosts disagreed.

‘Half a million dollars of taxpayers money, shouldn’t we have the right to know?’ veteran journalist Ray Martin asked.

Senator Hume replied: ‘Whatever the situation is that has given rise to those claims is between Comcare and between Rachelle Miller. No minister, no member of the government has any eyes in to what it is that that claim has been about.’  

The Project hosts' tough questioning sparked a fiery response from Liberal Senator Jane Hume

The Project hosts’ tough questioning sparked a fiery response from Liberal Senator Jane Hume

The Project hosts refused to let the matter go.

‘So the public doesn’t deserve to know, we should vote at this election with no knowledge of who this person is what they did,’ Hamish MacDonald asked.

Wilkinson added: ‘Which does cast a pall over all Liberal MPs who are standing right now.’

Senator Hume fired back and described the questioning as unreasonable as the hostile exchange continued.

‘We know the report has exonerated Alan Tudge of any wrongdoing,’ Hume said. 

‘Whatever this claim is about is between Rachelle Miller and between her Comcare claim.’

A defiant Wilkinson replied: ‘And half a million dollars worth of taxpayer funds, senator -‘

Hume snapped back: ‘This happens all the time, you know Lisa -‘

Wilkinson interrupted: ‘Well that’s really sad.’

Senator Hume pointed out that other people also make Comcare claims.

The Project hosts Hamish Macdonald and Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) believe Australians have a right to know more details about the compensation payout funded by taxpayers

The Project hosts Hamish Macdonald and Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) believe Australians have a right to know more details about the compensation payout funded by taxpayers

But Wilkinson was determined to have the last say.

‘Except we’re not voting for them to be in our federal parliament,’ she fired up before quickly wrapping up the fiery interview.

Mr Tudge was recently cleared of breaching any ministerial guidelines during his affair with former press secretary Ms Miller.  

Despite the investigation clearing Mr Tudge of breaching any rules, the Morrison Government finalised a financial settlement with Ms Miller, which included a massive payout and reimbursement of legal costs.

It wasn’t the only topic Senator Hume and The Project hosts clashed about during the fiery eight minute interview on Sunday night.

The senator cam under fire for jumping to defence of a controversial party candidate Katherine Deves.

The Liberal candidate for former Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s Sydney Warringah’s was forced to apologise this week after historic tweets emerged of Ms Deves describing transgender children as ‘surgically mutilated and sterilised and compared lobbying to stop transgender athletes from competing in women’s sport to standing up against the Holocaust.

Senator Hume conceded Ms Deves’ comments were inappropriate but then said the candidate was a passionate advocate for fairness and equality in women’s sport, sparking anger from the program hosts 

‘I’m asking you right now about whether you really believe this is a feminist campaign for sport, or something that dresses up what is ultimately about division and hate, that is bigotry dressed up as feminism?,’ Macdonald asked.

Rachelle Miller (pictured), the former staffer and mistress of education minister Alan Tudge recently finalised a settlement with the federal government

Rachelle Miller (pictured), the former staffer and mistress of education minister Alan Tudge recently finalised a settlement with the federal government

About The Author