779 Ms Wilkinson was in no doubt as to the significance of the "project" the subject of the "pitch". On the same day, she referred to the "explosive political story" as being "an extraordinary coverup involving Linda Reynolds, Michaelia Cash and the PMO" (Ex R117).
780 The following day, on 20 January, the Timeline document was sent by Ms Wilkinson to the rest of the Project Team. When the document was shared, the importance of the topic was recognised (Campbell (at [14]–[27]); Thornton (at [27]–[30]); Meakin (at [26]–[30])) and the Timeline document was thereafter used to guide lines of enquiry for the story (Ex R124; Wilkinson 28 July 2023 (at [34]); Llewellyn (at [71])).
781 One would have thought anyone reading it would have understood it not only contained some startling allegations that required close scrutiny, but that many people were apparently involved and aware of the cover-up. Relevantly, it alleged (page references are to Ex 42):
- (1) Mr Payne and Ms Brown found out about the allegation "due to a security breach" (at 3);
- (2) "[n]otification was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from the Parliament House AFP Station" (at 4);
- (3) after meeting with the AFP, "Brittany is flown to Perth" (at 5);
- (4) in June "Brittany's original contract with Minister Cash from Star Chamber is rejected. (Note - Fiona Brown sits on Star Chamber)" (at 5);
- (5) "[t]here was a noticeable presence of Daniel Wong/Kunkel in the office during the week following the incident" (at 7);
- (6) "the AFP Unit in Parliament House had been informed [the week after] and would like to speak with me" (at 7);
- (7) that she was given two options being: (a) "I could go home to the Gold Coast for the duration of the election campaign but that this would likely impact my ability to reapply for a job in the future"; or (b) "I could stay onboard and go to Perth, Western Australia for the campaign" (at 7–8);
- (8) that she was "[p]ausing the active case with the AFP following internal pressure to go to Perth for the 2019 Federal Election" (at 11).
