Cabinet Minister Tanya Plibersek has defended her Labor colleague Katy Gallagher against accusations she weaponised allegations of sexual assault, saying the stoush was missing the point.

The finance minister has maintained she did not mislead parliament about what knowledge she had of Brittany Higgins’ allegations, and was responding to a suggestion she knew about the incident for weeks to use for political gain.
Plibersek said the claims against her colleague were “untrue”.

“There is no one with more integrity in the parliament than Senator Katy Gallagher, she is an excellent person,” she told Sunrise.

The environment minister said the “central point” about how a sexual assault allegation in the workplace had been mishandled, was being missed.

“What really worries me … is if you are a young woman looking at the way this has unravelled … you would really think twice about making a complaint,” she said.

“I really do want to send a message to those people who have been sexually assaulted or who are thinking about making a complaint, there will always be people who will stand up for you for your right to get justice.”

Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie said the allegations should be left to the courts to determine.

“Quite frankly I think it’s getting very nasty, it’s getting very disappointing,” she told Sky News.

Lambie said the psychological impacts being felt by those involved needed to be taken into account.

“It was great to see the Me Too movement get out there, I believe this is now damaging that,” she said.

“But it’s also damaging anybody else that wants to come forward and start talking to a politician in the future.

“I’m very concerned … that we’re going to shut that down because people will be too scared or too afraid to come and see us.”

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said there were a “whole range of questions” now surrounding Gallagher.