Under Senator Malcolm Roberts questioning, Rob Stefanic, the head of the federal government department tasked with overseeing Parliament House, denied being in a relationship with his deputy, but refused to say whether he'd been in one with her before creating and placing her in a job paying about $430,000 a year.

Cate Saunders was also given a $315,000 additional payment to retire, despite being far younger than the retirement age.

Senator Roberts also asked about reports of there being a toxic culture at his agency, the Department of Parliamentary Services. Multiple staff have approached Senator Roberts and are not satisfied with the fobbing off of these concerns.