Earlier that week Labor had named members of the prime minister's staff accused of 'back-grounding' journalists about Mr Sharaz during a feisty Senate estimates hearing. 'I do not make a finding that negative briefing against Mr Sharaz of the sort alleged has taken place,' he wrote. 'My conclusion, based on the evidence presented to me, should in no way be taken as a reflection upon the honesty or sincerity of Ms Higgins.' She questioned why Dr Kunkel would ask the victim of an alleged rape at Parliament House in March 2019 to now demonstrate that the backgrounding occurred. 'This looks like an attempt to push back on Ms Higgins very strongly and it seems extremely unfair to me,' Senator Gallagher said.
