Anthony Albanese has dismissed as a "bizarre conspiracy theory" suggestions Labor has questions to answer over its knowledge of Brittany Higgins' rape allegations.
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The prime minister's comments came as pressure mounts on Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, who denied she misled parliament in 2021 about being aware of the allegations before they were made public.
Ms Higgins says she was raped by fellow Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann in Parliament House in 2019, a claim he has always denied.
Mr Lehrmann's trial was aborted over juror misconduct and prosecutors did not seek a retrial, citing concern for Ms Higgins' mental health.
Responding to claims she knew about the incident for weeks and planned to use the information for political gain, Senator Gallagher has said she did not seek to weaponise the allegations.
Questions over her conduct were raised after leaked text messages between Ms Higgins and her partner David Sharaz emerged last week, suggesting the pair strategised with the then-opposition senator about how to break the story.
Mr Albanese said his minister had been transparent and dismissed as "absurd" suggestions Senator Gallagher misled parliament.
"It's a bizarre conspiracy theory that suggests that Labor is somehow at the centre of all of this," he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young described the treatment of the allegations as "disgusting" and blasted the "politicking, the mudslinging and the hypocrisy".
"I'm extremely concerned about the message this sends to women ... whether you are a political staffer, whether you are a cleaner, whether you work at Aussies cafe, whether you are a journalist, this is not okay," she said.
"The people trying to score political points out of this should be ashamed of themselves."
The Greens will not facilitate any political game-playing on the allegations, and there were "serious questions" to be asked about how the messages had publicly leaked.
"It just beggars belief that we're back in this building after 12 months of discussion on trying to raise the standards in this place, to have this back being debated in this manner," Senator Hanson-Young said.
Mr Albanese said the two staffers' former boss, Liberal senator Linda Reynolds, had confirmed Senator Gallagher told her she was aware "in broad terms" about the allegations before they were publicly aired.
Opposition Senate leader Simon Birmingham said because Labor previously chose to ask hundreds of questions about the Higgins matter, questions being asked now about who knew what were warranted.
"The claims that there was no knowledge of any information were made to the Senate ... it's only appropriate that that should be cleared up and addressed in the senate by (Senator Gallagher)," he told Sky News.
Asked about claims made by Fiona Brown, the former chief of staff for Senator Reynolds, that former prime minister Scott Morrison misled parliament over his knowledge of the case, Senator Birmingham said Mr Morrison's ministerial career was over.
Australian Associated Press
