Alan Tudge’s ex-lover Rachelle Miller to secure over $500,000 for affair

By Brett Lackey and Tita Smith For Daily Mail Australia 01:20 11 Apr 2022, updated 07:22 11 Apr 2022

A staggering $500,000 of taxpayers’ money is set to be used to payout a parliamentary staffer who had a secret affair with a Liberal frontbencher.

Rachelle Miller, the ex-mistress of Education Minister Alan Tudge is reportedly set to receive the payout from the Federal Government after claiming she was bullied. 

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Despite Mr Tudge stepping aside from his position, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday morning confirmed he was still the education minister. 

‘Is Alan Tudge still a Cabinet minister? I’m a little confused,’ Today show host Karl Stefanovic asked. 

‘He is. He stood aside and we had that inquiry and it was found there was nothing there which would prevent him continuing on as a minister,’ Mr Morrison replied.

Alan Tudge’s ex lover Rachelle Miller (pictured together) is reportedly set to get a six-figure payout from the Federal Government despite an investigation clearing him of breaching ministerial guidelines

‘He’s decided to stay aside for health … reasons until the next election and if he wishes to rejoin the Cabinet he will be welcome,’ Mr Morrison said. 

‘He’s technically still part of the Cabinet.’

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

Ms Miller alleged he had been emotionally and, in one instance, physically abusive towards her during the pair’s consensual affair, which Mr Tudge emphatically denies.

Despite the investigation clearing Mr Tudge of breaching any rules, the Morrison Government is finalising a financial settlement with Ms Miller, which includes a massive payout and reimbursement of legal costs, News.com.au reported. 

When Ms Miller’s payout and the government’s own legal fees are combined, the affair could end up costing taxpayer’s close to a million dollars.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday said Mr Tudge is still the Education Minister despite stepping aside (pictured)

Government sources said the former media adviser was in the final stages of negotiation after mediation talks with the Department of Finance.

‘That’s a private matter between her and the department and it’s not a matter I have any involvement with or for which I have any oversight over.’ Mr Morrison said.

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‘If he didn’t do anything wrong what’s the money for and if he did why is he still a cabinet minister,’ Stefanovic pushed.

‘We had an independent inquiry which found there was no basis for him not to continue on as minister and as for those others matters I can’t say.’ 

I can’t say what those matters speak to but I’m not aware of anything that would be preventing him from continuing on and serving as a minister and he’s been a very fine Education Minister.’

Mr Tudge stood aside as Education Minister late last year as the investigation, commissioned by Scott Morrison, was launched into Ms Miller’s allegations of abuse. 

Although Mr Tudge confirmed he was ‘intimate’ with Ms Miller, he insisted the pair never had sex.  

Earlier this month the Prime Minister said Dr Vivienne Thom, who investigated the allegations, found that the evidence in the inquiry ‘does not provide a basis for a finding that Mr Tudge’s conduct breached the ministerial standards’. 

Ms Miller did not participate in the inquiry, saying the process was flawed and the government had ignored her concerns about the terms of reference.

Her discussions with the Morrison government over her civil claim were also active at the time.  

Ms Miller said the minister repeatedly chastised, bullied and belittled her, outlining methods of coercive control.  

On one occasion, she alleges Mr Tudge kicked her until she left his bed after her phone rang early one morning and he became frustrated it woke him, allegations Mr Tudge denied.

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In a statement Mr Tudge said: ‘I welcome Dr Vivienne Thom’s Report which finds that none of Rachelle Miller’s allegations against me for alleged events in 2017 were substantiated, nor was there any breach of Ministerial Standards.

Ms Miller alleged he had been emotionally and in one instance, physically abusive towards her during the pair’s consensual affair – but an investigation last month cleared Mr Tudge of any wrongdoing

‘This is the second inquiry created at the request of Ms Miller and the second time that the allegations have been dismissed.

‘I deeply regret the consensual affair with Ms Miller in the second half of 2017 when both of us were married with children and in our forties. It should never have happened and it has caused hurt to our respective families. It caused the end of my marriage that year.

‘Despite Dr Thom’s findings, given the impact of the allegations on my family and myself, I have requested not to be returned to the front bench before the election. In the meantime, I will focus on my health, my kids and my electorate.

‘I will not be making further comment.’

However, Dr Thom report said Ms Miller’s decision not to participate limited the amount of evidence available to the inquiry. 

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‘The Ministerial Standards do not specifically address broader integrity and conflict of interest issues that can be a consequence of relationships that do not amount to ongoing or family relationships,’ she said.