Alan Tudge (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)

Note: the following story discusses abuse.

Rachelle Miller had an affair with Education Minister Alan Tudge when she was working as a media adviser for him in 2017 and has alleged the relationship was abusive — emotionally and once physically. Tudge has strenuously rejected the allegations. 

In a statement, Miller said she had reflected on the relationship in light of sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins’ damning report into parliamentary workplace culture, released yesterday, which found one in three parliamentary staffers had been sexually harassed while at work. 

A key driver of sexual violence and gender discrimination, the report found, was abuse of power and poor accountability. 

Since the Me Too movement gained traction on social media in 2017, coverage and understanding of the drivers of gendered violence has grown too. Now women and victims have a better understanding of something they have always felt but struggled to give a name to. 

A social reckoning 

Miller first went public with her allegations in an ABC Four Corners episode “Inside the Canberra Bubble” last year. But In a new revelation, she said after being encouraged to stay up drinking with Tudge, she woke up naked in his bed. Her phone buzzed with a work call, and Tudge allegedly kicked her and told her to “get the fuck out of his bed”, complaining about being woken. Miller said she went to her room and continued working.

Miller said she couldn’t remember details of the night, and was too afraid to ask Tudge about them.

“I was so ashamed, so humiliated, so scared, so exhausted,” she said. On speaking on Four Corners she said she “told the small part of my story [she] was able to manage”.

She said the relationship was “defined by a significant power imbalance” and the effect of Tudge’s alleged “bullying, intimidation [and] harassment” destroyed her self confidence.

Executive director of Rape and Sexual Assault Research and Advocacy Institute Dr Rachael Burgin tells Crikey she believes Miller’s allegation could be the beginning of a “chorus” of women coming forward after the Jenkins report. 

“This is what Me Too is all about: bringing people together in a shared experience because there’s safety in numbers and people feel they’ll have more support and more people behind them,” she said. 

“We assume people who experience sexual violence or harassment will know what it is or understand it, but most of society doesn’t understand it.” 

Burgin says it can take a long time for people to label their abuse. This might be because they don’t want to label themselves as a victim or a survivor and try to create narratives to explain others’ behaviours. Others don’t understand how other factors tie into their relationships such as power and culture. 

Rape trauma syndrome, for example, can cause disorganisation and disruptions in emotional regulation, with many delaying using the terms “rape” or “sexual assault”. ​​One in five women in Australia has experienced sexual violence, but in 87% of cases women do not contact the police.

“People just understand they feel uncomfortable or something isn’t right, but they can later reflect on it,” she said.

Driven by survivors

The Jenkins report recommends two watchdogs be given disclosures of misconduct and recommend sanctions against MPs, senators and their staff.

Director of Labour, Equality and Human Rights research group in the Monash Business School Dominique Allen says it is shocking these weren’t already in place.

“People didn’t know what processes were in place to make a complaint, and ended pushing [issues] behind them,” she said. “There’s a huge gap in training, education and knowledge among parliamentary staff.” 

She says the Human Rights Commission had a blueprint for workplaces to handle complaints and reduce employers’ liability by ensuring the proper systems were in place. But she stressed these still rely on victims coming forward with their experiences, something not everyone feels safe to do.

A positive duty of care — recommended in Jenkins’ Respect@Work report but dismissed by the government — would place the onus on employers to protect employees instead of the other way around. 

“We need to take the onus off the individual and take the heavy burden away from those who have already had poor experiences,” Allen said. 

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

For counselling, advice and support for men in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania who have anger, relationship or parenting issues, call the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491. Men in WA can contact the Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline on 1800 000 599.