Ministers deny role in leaked text exchange between Gladys Berejiklian and mystery MP

Two federal government ministers have denied being the unnamed Liberal MP who allegedly called Prime Minister Scott Morrison a “psycho” in a text to Gladys Berejiklian.

Foreign Affairs and Women Minister Marise Payne and Environment Minister Sussan Ley both issued statements this afternoon as speculation grew about the identity of the mystery MP.

Their denials came after Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce insinuated the culprit was female and called on them to “out themselves”.

Yesterday, an alleged text message exchange between former NSW premier Ms Berejiklian and a cabinet minister was broadcast on live television after Mr Morrison’s address at the National Press Club.

While Ms Berejiklian later said she had “no recollection” of calling the Prime Minister a “horrible, horrible person” who was “more concerned with politics than people”, she did not deny sending the texts.

It was also alleged the cabinet minister replied that Mr Morrison was a “fraud” and a “complete psycho”.

Today Ms Payne and Ms Ley denied having any prior knowledge of the reported text message exchange.

Ms Payne said the claims had “nothing to do with me”, adding it was “ludicrous to suggest otherwise”.

“I have never had such an exchange with the former premier, nor have I ever used such language, and nor did I leak messages, if indeed they are genuine,” she said.

Ms Ley said she first became aware of the alleged texts was when they were read out at yesterday’s press club appearance.

“Any suggestion otherwise is insulting and completely untrue,” she said.

“I have known the Prime Minister for 20 years and such a characterisation of his behaviour and attitudes is entirely alien to my understanding of the politician and the person.”

Senior government figures Mr Joyce, Greg Hunt, Paul Fletcher, Anne Ruston, Linda Reynolds and Simon Birmingham are also among those who have distanced themselves from the text scandal.

When the alleged exchange was put to Mr Morrison yesterday, he said: “I obviously don’t agree with it. And I don’t think that’s my record.”

When he was asked about it this morning the PM said he was “not fussed”, and that he had not asked anyone in his office to investigate the matter.

It was unclear if the cabinet minister alleged to have been involved in the exchange was a federal or state MP.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean, who has previously been critical of Mr Morrison, told Nine Radio this morning he had “no reason to believe” he had sent the texts.

“It’s just outrageous and I’m here denying it,” he said.

Mr Kean said while he sometimes had different views to his federal colleagues, the suggestion he was involved was “insulting”.

In December, Mr Morrison made a public appeal for Ms Berejiklian to return to politics as the Liberal candidate in the federal seat of Warringah.

He also criticised the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s investigation into the former premier.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet criticised the leaked text messages embarrassing the Liberal Party as “smear, gossip and innuendo”.

“This is not news, that is smear, gossip and innuendo … it belongs in a schoolyard from the 1980s,” he said, during a press conference on the NSW South Coast.

Last year, Mr Morrison had tense exchanges with Mr Perrottet, who at the time was NSW treasurer, when negotiations were being held over providing COVID-19 financial support to NSW.

Today Mr Perrottet acknowledged he’d had “robust” debates with the PM in the past, but that was expected during a global pandemic.

“We should not be smearing a man who has worked bloody hard for two years,” he said.

In a statement released yesterday, Ms Berejiklian said: “I understand there has been some commentary today concerning myself and the PM. I have no recollection of such messages.”

“Let me reiterate my very strong support for Prime Minister Morrison and all he is doing for our nation during these very challenging times.

“I also strongly believe he is the best person to lead our nation for years to come.”