Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw on Monday revealed he had contacted Department of Prime Minster and Cabinet secretary Phil Gaetjens about the Brittany Higgins matter.

Scott Morrison has tasked Mr Gaetjens with investigating who in the prime minister’s office knew about the allegation and when.

Kershaw said he had spoken to all people involved in inquiries linked to the alleged sexual assault about the importance of letting the criminal investigation run its course.

“I also spoke with Mr Gaetjens, secretary of the department of prime minister and cabinet, that I’m particularly concerned about the intersection of his inquiry with our investigation,” he told a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra.

Higgins says she was raped by a former colleague inside Parliament House in March 2019.

The AFP commissioner wrote to Gaetjens on February 22 asking for the terms of reference for his inquiry and later received information about the scope.

Two days later Kershaw sent a letter to all MPs and senators about reporting crimes following a request from Morrison to provide guidance.

Kershaw said the allegation made by Higgins was serious and being pursued by the AFP through its ACT policing arm.

“I will be limited in what I can say to ensure the active criminal investigation is not compromised,” he said.

“It is being treated with due care and attention including with oversight by our sensitive investigations oversight board.”

Kershaw also touched on historical rape allegations made against Attorney-General Christian Porter who emphatically denies the claims.

He said the AFP made contact with NSW counterparts in February about the matter and provided all relevant documents.

Meanwhile, a separate committee hearing has been suspended with Senate President Scott Ryan refusing to answer questions about the incident concerning Higgins.

Ryan said he would not speak about the allegations which remain part of an active police investigation.

Labor senators were astounded with his response, sparking a 15-minute break in proceedings.

Ryan also hinted he would not answer questions about the allegations against Porter because of a potential coronial inquest into the involved woman’s death.

Labor senator Kimberley Kitching said it appeared to be a cover up.

Opposition upper house leader Penny Wong grilled Ryan over whether he discussed the “tactical approach” to the hearing with the prime minister.

“I did not have discussions around tactics or anything else,” Ryan said.