Sunrise host David Koch grills Anthony Albanese in brutal final interview

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been given a shock grilling over the Brittany Higgins row in a bruising interview with David Koch on the host’s final day on Seven’s Sunrise.

The PM appeared in person on the show to bid the TV veteran farewell but was instead given a punishing interrogation over the Higgins affair and the role of his finance minister Katy Gallagher.

‘We got to cover the news of the day,’ said Koch moments after the PM sat down at the host’s desk.

‘Indeed’ replied the PM before Koch led straight into the blunt: ‘Did your colleague mislead Parliament?’

‘No,’ snapped the PM as Koch followed up: ‘From that vision it looks like she clearly did.’

New leaked text messages between Brittany Higgins and her fiancé David Sharaz (pictured together) appear to suggest that Anthony Albanese and other Labor heavyweights had ‘direct contact’ with the couple as part of a plot to publicise her alleged sexual assault inside Parliament House

Four days before Ms Higgins’ allegations went public Mr Sharaz wrote of how Senator Gallagher (pictured) was ‘really invested’ in the saga

The tense exchange followed claims senator Gallagher helped ‘weaponise’ Ms Higgins’ rape allegations to use against then-PM Scott Morrison.

Ms Gallagher told the Senate ‘no-one had prior knowledge’ of the accusations against Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann until they were made public.

But new texts allegedly show she was aware of Ms Higgins rape accusations at least four days before her interview with Lisa Wilkinson on The Project was broadcast in February 2021.

Texts messages between Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz said the senator was ‘really invested’ in Ms Higgins’ claims four days before the shock allegations aired.

Daily Mail Australia revealed Mr Sharaz boasted of his friendship with the Labor Senator and planned to brief her to ask questions in Parliament. 

The PM hit back with a blunt denial and re-affirmed his support for his finance minister, insisting: ‘She did not.’

He dismissed concerns Ms Gallagher was linked to Ms Higgins’ multi-million dollar compensation deal for her treatment in Parliament after she made her rape allegations.

Ms Higgins lodged a claim for $3million dollars and the case was settled on the first day of mediation without even hearing from key witnesses, including Ms Higgins’ former bosses, ex-ministers Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash. 

The PM insisted: ‘Katy Gallagher had no involvement in that whatsoever.’

But Koch pressed the PM and said: ‘The optics for the Australian public is that it is a serious charge. It’s a serious allegation.’

Mr Albanese agreed but added: ‘The idea that there’s this conspiracy… well, that’s nonsense. That’s nonsense.

‘She’s a great minister. She’s a great finance minister and she’s a great minister for the status of women.’ 

He added: ‘You have these front page sort of stories because of text messages between two partners. Let’s be very clear here. One was a Liberal staffer.

‘I’ve been questioned over it. I met with Brittany Higgins on the same day that she met with Scott Morrison. 

‘Before then I had never met her and that is the only conversation I’ve ever had with her.’

Anthony Albanese said Scott Morrison had led the nation’s concern over the allegations and ordered the Gaertjens Report into the incident which has still to have its findings revealed

Ms Gallagher told the Senate ‘no-one had prior knowledge’ of the accusations against Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) until they were made public

Explosive texts between Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz revealed the pair plotted how they would ‘f*** over’ the then-PM Scott Morrison.
‘Just wait,’ Ms Higgins messaged Mr Sharaz. ‘We’ve got him.’ Mr Sharaz replied: ‘I still hate the c***.’
But Mr Albanese said Mr Morrison had led the nation’s concern over the allegations and ordered the Gaertjens Report into the incident which has still to have its findings revealed. 

‘There was a story about allegations of a sexual assault by one Liberal staff member against another Liberal staff member in a Liberal Minister’s office, metres from the Prime Minister’s Office,’ said Mr Albanese.

‘The prime minister made comments on it the next day, speaking about a discussion that he had with with [his wife] Jenny and about how he felt directly about it. 

‘You then had you then had the Prime Minister establish himself an inquiry into what his office knew, and when a report that we have never seen, and the idea that questions wouldn’t be asked. 

‘This was the lead story on this show, on every show, on every newspaper and of course, we asked questions there.’

He added: ‘At that time, it was Scott Morrison who stood up and made a statement to Parliament. 

‘The only time in all the time I’ve been in Parliament I can recall a prime minister without notice making a statement at the beginning of question time.’