Liberal MPs break ranks to call for inquiry into Brittany Higgins’ leaked text messages

Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins. Liberals Andrew Bragg and Bridget Archer want an inquiry into how Higgins’ text messages were leaked to the media. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Liberals Andrew Bragg and Bridget Archer have broken ranks to call for an inquiry into how Brittany Higgins’ text messages were leaked, with Bragg labelling debate in the Senate where the Coalition is pursuing Katy Gallagher “very ugly”.

The pair made the call after the finance minister denied misleading the Senate about her knowledge of Higgins’ allegation before it aired and Network Ten asked the Australian federal police to investigate how Higgins’ texts became public.