This article contains references to abuse/domestic violence.
Minister for Defence Peter Dutton has defended his fellow Liberal cabinet minister Alan Tudge as a "very honourable and decent man" after he stood aside pending allegations of abuse by a former member of his staff.
Mr Tudge has denied the allegations.
Mr Dutton on Friday referred to Mr Tudge's relationship with his former media advisor Rachelle Miller as a consensual extramarital affair that "cost him his marriage".
"There's a lot of embarrassment on both sides, I have no doubt, but the matter's being investigated now as it should be," Mr Dutton told Nine's Today Show.
"There are a lot of Australians who would find themselves in that position ... people make mistakes from time to time, and he's faced up to that mistake."
Mr Dutton said Ms Miller's story had "changed quite dramatically" from the information she gave to ABC's Four Corners, which broke the news of the affair last November.
Education Minister Alan Tudge speaks with Minister for Defence Peter Dutton and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in attendance in 2019. Source: AAP
"Well she's revealed more details, I think is the case, on her side of the story," Today Show host Sylvia Jeffreys shot back.
Both Mr Tudge and Ms Miller have previously admitted to having an extramarital affair together in 2017.
Following the release of the Jenkins report into the culture of parliamentary workplaces, Ms Miller told reporters on Thursday their relationship was more "complicated" than she had initially described and said it was defined by a “significant power imbalance”.
She alleged the relationship with Mr Tudge had been “emotionally and on one occasion physically abusive”.
“When I finally stood up to him and asked him to stop treating me so badly, he told me to stop being such a precious petal. That happened in this building in his office,” she said.
Ms Miller claimed that during a work trip to Kalgoorlie with then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Tudge and her “drank a lot until very late” in the evening.
She said she later woke up - naked in a bed with Mr Tudge - to a 4am phone call, where she alleged he began kicking her on the side of the leg telling her to “get the f*** out” until she “fell off” onto the floor.
“I felt someone kicking me on the side of my hip and leg. As I tried to sit up in bed. It was the minister, he was furious, telling me to get the f*** out of his bed,” she said.
“Then I realised, I was completely naked. He continued to kick me until I fell off the side of the bed and ended up on the floor. He was yelling at me that my phone had woken him up.”
Mr Tudge said on Thursday he "completely and utterly" rejected these claims and that he would co-operate with an investigation into the pair's relationship.
"I have accepted responsibility for a consensual affair that should not have happened many years ago.
"But Ms Miller’s allegations are wrong, did not happen and are contradicted by her own written words to me.
"I regret having to say these things. I do not wish Ms Miller ill but I have to defend myself in light of these allegations, which I reject."
Mr Tudge was stood aside on Thursday from his role as education and youth minister by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“Given the seriousness of the claims made by Ms Miller, it's important these matters be resolved fairly and expeditiously,” Mr Morrison said.
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit . In an emergency, call 000.
The Men’s Referral Service provides advice for men on domestic violence and can be contacted on 1300 766 491.
