He has been sacked from the ministry and now resides on the backbench, but the report investigating Jamie Briggs’ behaviour towards a female DFAT staffer in a Hong Kong bar has been blocked from release under freedom of information laws. The Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet argued the report, written by former bureaucrat Lynelle Briggs — no relation — was a cabinet document, and would impact on the department’s ability to provide timely, responsive and frank advice to the PM on issues concerning the conduct of a minister. The release of the report would also potentially compromise the privacy of the staffer who complained about Briggs’ behaviour, PM&C argued.

Identifying details about the staffer (excluding her name), including a photo taken on the night in question, were published in The Australian.