Whistleblower ‘deeply disappointed’ by investigation into claims of sexual misconduct in parliament

A man who made allegations of sexual intercourse and misconduct occurring inside Parliament House was left "deeply disappointed" by an independent investigation into his claims, with the Department of Finance refusing to give him a copy of its report or comment on its findings.

More than a year after his explosive claims about federal politicians bringing sex workers into Parliament House or engaging in intercourse in the building's prayer room, the whistleblower - who didn't want to be named - claimed his evidence was not accepted and his allegations were not properly investigated.

An independent investigation by law firm Sparke Helmore has been finalised, but the finance department won't reveal what it found.

The man spoke to Channel 10 on 22 March last year, alleging a group of Coalition staffers shared images and videos of sex acts inside Parliament House via Facebook Messenger over a two-year period. The report referenced images that were alleged to be of staffers, including the man's occasional partner, masturbating on female MPs desks. The whistleblower told Sparke Helmore in his submission to the investigation that he and his then-partner had engaged in sex acts in Parliament House.

The man's former partner was sacked from his political job soon after the Channel 10 report aired. Prime minister Scott Morrison called the incident "shocking" and "disgraceful", saying "we must get this house in order".

In November 2021, his former partner applied for a family violence order against him, seeking to prevent him from posting about him on social media.

Canberra police also received a complaint of potential revenge porn, related to the sharing of the intimate images, in March 2021. ACT police said on Tuesday that investigation was still active and ongoing.

The man's allegations, seen by Guardian Australia, claim that a former federal politician had his staff procure sex workers and bring them into the building, and that a current federal politician had engaged in sex acts inside Parliament House's prayer room.

A written copy of the man's allegations was produced on 9 June 2021. On 2 August, Sparke Helmore investigators emailed to ask for clarification and further information on several of his allegations. The man responded to the request, and offered to "make available all electronic transcripts, pictures, screenshots etc to verify any or all of this information".

On 1 March, the assistant secretary of the finance department's HR frameworks branch wrote back, saying that "the investigation has been finalised" and thanking him "for your participation in the investigation".

On 2 March 2022 the department issued a public statement confirming the investigation's end, and that "for privacy reasons, Finance cannot comment further on this matter".

On 2 and 4 March, the whistleblower emailed the finance department, requesting the report produced by the investigation.

"As you had indicated that the report had been finalised, I cannot see an issue with you releasing a copy to me," he wrote on 4 March.

Three days later, the same assistant secretary of the finance department responded: "Due to privacy and confidentiality considerations, Finance will not be providing specific findings and recommendations, or commenting further on the independent investigation."

The man told Guardian Australia he was upset at the outcome of the process. He alleged senior politicians in both the Coalition and Labor had declined to accept further evidence and photos he claimed to have.

"Whilst I was deeply disappointed by the outcome of the Department of Finance investigation, it was always going to amount to nothing as a result of no evidence being accepted by the investigation team, Sparke Helmore lawyers, the department," he said.

"Many people have made their own commentary around what has happened, but I won't be commenting further as I try to move on and rebuild after a tough, and at times, harrowing 14 months."

In a statement on Tuesday, a finance department spokesperson said the department had "nothing further to add further to the statement issued on 2 March 2022".

Guardian Australia requested a copy of any report produced by Sparke Helmore during its investigation. In response, the finance spokesperson requested Guardian Australia lodge a freedom of information request with the department.