Lawyers acting for the former Liberal staffer involved in a 'toxic' extra-marital affair with the federal education minister have blasted his remarks as 'pathetic' and a 'shameless' abuse of power.
The $40,000 taxpayer-funded investigation into the affair between Alan Tudge and former staffer Rachelle Miller in 2017 - to which she did not provide evidence - cleared him on Tuesday.
Mr Tudge, who previously publicly apologised for the affair, said in a statement the official Sparke Helmore report into the matter contained 'no adverse findings' against him.
Ms Miller was Mr Tudge's media adviser when the pair - both married at the time - conducted a secret affair.
Lawyers acting for Rachelle Miller slammed the education minister, who was involved in an affair with her while they were both married, after he stated an official report cleared him of wrongdoing. She opted not to give evidence to the investigation on legal advice. Mr Tudge and Ms Miller are pictured above in 2017
Mr Tudge admitted in a Facebook post that the affair with his media adviser had caused separation from his wife, Terri (pictured above right). He also expressed remorse and apologised
But Ms Miller's lawyer, Peter Gordon, said Mr Tudge's remarks were 'pathetic' and 'misleading', news.com.au reported.
'[It's] about as credible as skiting about winning the Archibald Prize, when the only judge was your mum,' Mr Gordon said.
'The investigation could not reach a considered conclusion because Rachelle declined to participate, declaring back in February 2021 that the process was neither independent nor fair and noting also that the government had refused to undertake to provide the resulting report to her. And so it has turned out.'
Mr Gordon said Mr Tudge's claim of 'legal privilege' over the
