A senior government source with knowledge of the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the decision on Mr Tudge was not expected within days because Mr Morrison wanted advice on the matter from Stephanie Foster,the deputy secretary in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
“There is another chapter to go on this well before the PM makes up his mind,” the source said.
The Sun-Herald andThe Sunday Age revealed last weekend that Mr Tudgeintended to stay in Parliament and contest his Melbourne seat of Aston,while his Victorian colleagues are split over his fate because of the risk of political damage to the government.
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The nameplate outside Mr Tudge’s former ministerial office has been removed.
Mr Tudge took a leave of absence after his former media adviser,Rachelle Miller,accused him of being emotionally abusive and on one occasion physically abusive while the pair travelled together for work. Mr Tudge has denied the allegations.
The Prime Minister asked Vivienne Thom,a former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security,to inquire into the matter but Ms Miller declined to participate.