A young female consular staffer was reportedly so distraught after the Hong Kong incident which led to cities minister Jamie Briggs' resignation that she called colleagues in the taxi on the way home, demanding something be done.

The unidentified woman, understood to be in her 20s, allegedly called Mr Briggs' chief of staff Stuart Eaton immediately after the altercation, with allegations the minister tried to kiss the public servant's neck according to The Australian.

The now former Minister for Cities and the Built Environment announced his resignation from the front bench on December 29 following 'certain matters' which occured with an unnamed female public servant, leading to a flurry of speculation over what exactly transpired that night.

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Mr Briggs denied the 'kiss allegation', admitting only to giving the woman a 'peck on the cheek' as she was leaving (Pictured with Victor from the Hong Kong MTR travelling in Hong Kong during November's trip)

Happier times: Jamie Briggs (left) pictured with Malcolm Turnbull in February in parliament. The PM has now called the matter 'a serious incident' and was part of a group who deliberated on Briggs' future

Jamie Briggs official letter of resignation of December 29 to the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

The incident reportedly took place last month at a bar in Lan Kwai Fong during an official tour of Hong Kong, with Channel Nine political editor Laurie Oaks alleging Mr Briggs put his arm around the woman - who is reportedly attached to the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong - told her she had 'piercing eyes' and tried to kiss her on the neck.

Mr Oaks said that Mr Briggs denied the 'kiss allegation', admitting only to giving the woman a 'peck on the cheek' as she was leaving.

The young woman reportedly made a number of complaints about Mr Briggs' 'inappropriate conduct' sparking a serious formal investigation by an independent official, overseen by ministers including the Prime Minister and Attorney-General.

PM Macolm Turnbull has labelled the incident 'a serious matter' and explained 'ministerial standards were breached' by Mr Briggs - a South Australian politician who painted himself as 'a family man.'

'It was considered very carefully with due process, consultation with senior colleagues, it was considered very, very carefully,' Mr Turnbull said on Wednesday.

'Ministerial standards were breached. His conduct did not live up to the standard required of ministers and as a consequence, he reflected on that and made a decision to offer his resignation which I accepted and it was the appropriate course of action.'

Mr Briggs' wife posted a picture of their family on social media in a show of support after his resignation

Jamie Briggs said in his resignation letter that 'at no point was it my intention to act inappropriately'

The public servant involved reportedly made a number of complaints to Mr Eaton before escalating the matter. Her complaint was taken to DFAT secretary Peter Varghese who notified Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who was in France at the time, who took the matter to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The cabinet governance committee - Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss, Julie Bishop and Attorney-General George Brandis - and a number of other ministers reportedly unanimously decided 'Mr Briggs' must go,' The Australian claims.

It comes as a woman who worked for minister Jamie Briggs said females in his office were treated as 'either beauty queens or ironing ladies', as it is revealed the 'overly-affectionate' politician stood down after trying to kiss a public servant on the neck.

Former staffer Rebekha Sharkie, who is primed to run for Brigg's seat in Mayo, said she left the South Australian minister's office in 2010 after overhearing a spate of sexist comments that did not align with her 'personal values'.

'There were things said that were misogynist in nature,' she told The Australian.

'His was typical of the attitude of the Abbott government: that women were either beauty queens or ironing ladies,' she added.

Former staffer Rebekha Sharkie, left, said she left Jamie Briggs' office in 2010 after overhearing a spate of sexist comments that did not align with her 'personal values'

Jamie Briggs, left, smiles alongside Alexander Downer, right, in London following a stopover in Hong Kong

Ms Sharkie told Daily Mail Australia that it is 'very important' for women feel comfortable calling out inappropriate behaviour in the office, but would not comment any further on her time working for the embattled minister.

A senior government source familiar with the woman's complaint told the Sydney Morning Herald that Briggs had been drunk and became 'overly-affectionate'.

The 38-year-old, who has served in federal parliament in the Adelaide Hills seat of Mayo since 2008, made the announcement in Adelaide on Tuesday, after he met with Prime Minister Turnbull and handed over his resignation letter.

'At no point was it my intention to act inappropriately and I'm obliged to note for the record that nothing illegal has been alleged or did in fact occur,' Mr Briggs stated on Tuesday.

'His was typical of the attitude of the Abbott government: that women were either beauty queens or ironing ladies,' Ms Sharkie (centre) said

A female public servant alleges Briggs attempted to kiss her on the neck during a trip through Hong Kong before meeting British Minister's to discuss the future of public transport

Briggs did not elaborate on the specifics of what had happened at the bar, saying only 'in the days following the evening the public servant raised a concern about the appropriateness of my behaviour towards her at the venue.'

'This was an error of professional judgement, I apologise again to the public servant involved.'

His wife, former Liberal staffer Estee Fiebiger-Briggs, has not publicly commented on the Hong Kong scandal, however she has reportedly posted a family picture on social media in a show of support.

A friend told the Adelaide Advertiser that Ms Fiebiger-Briggs is not concerned about the allegations against her husband and believes they are a 'complete exaggeration and over-reaction'.

Jamie Briggs pictured standing behind former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, said he was injured during the outgoing PM's farewell party when he tried to tackle him and had nothing to do with a broken table

This comes as two politicians come under fire for defending the 'decent' and 'hard working' minister's inappropriate actions.

West Australian Liberal senator Mathias Cormann said he was very sad to hear that his 'good friend' had been stood down.

'Very sad for my good friend Jamie. I know him as a decent, hard working and capable contributor to our cause. He has much to contribute,' he tweeted on Tuesday.

While Liberal National Party MP Ewen Jones appeared confident that Briggs would make a return to politics.

'@BriggsJamie will be back. Cream always rises. A good man and a better bloke. Tough day for a man doing a good job.'

Two politicians have come under fire for defending the 'decent' and 'hard working' minister's inappropriate actions

West Australian Liberal senator Mathias Cormann said he was very sad to hear that his 'good friend' had been stood down

Mr Jones was slammed for displaying 'blind loyalty over any sense of decency'

Mr Jones, right, pictured alongside Mr Briggs, left

Many Twitter users questioned why he would defend a man responsible for 'sexually harassing' a colleague

Jones was slammed for displaying 'blind loyalty over any sense of decency', with many questioning why he would defend a man responsible for 'sexually harassing' a colleague.

Briggs made headlines in September after he rolled into Parliament House in a wheelchair following Tony Abbott's raucous farewell party.

Mr Briggs initially claimed he hurt his knee after a jogging incident but changed his tune two months later, admitting the former Prime Minister was involved in the 'hi-jinks'.

While many believed the embarrassing injury was linked to the 'marble table incident', Mr Briggs admitted that he hurt his knee after he attempted to tackle the former Mr Abbott that night.

Jamie Briggs arrives in a wheelchair outside the Federal Liberal Party Room meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on September 15 after being hurt while tackling former PM Tony Abbott the night before

JAMIE BRIGGS' 2015 - FROM TACKLING TONY ABBOTT TO A HONG KONG BAR September 14 Jamie Briggs backs Tony Abbott in the leadership ballot as he is defeated by Malcolm Turnbull Mr Abbott hosts a farewell party inside the Prime Ministerial suite An Italian marble coffee table worth $590 is smashed during the drinking session It was alleged Mr Briggs had been dancing on it singing 'Suspicious Minds' when it broke He has always denied dancing on top of the table Jamie Briggs pictured in a wheelchair after the Tony Abbott party September 15 Mr Briggs arrives the next morning in a wheelchair claiming he hurt his leg while running November 13 Mr Briggs admits on radio that he in fact hurt himself at the party on the night Tony Abbott was defeated Said he tried to tackle the former PM and injured his knee Again denied claims he was involved in the broken marble table Late November Becomes involved in an incident at a crowded bar in Hong Kong during drinks which leads to concerns raised by a female public servant December 29 Resigns as a Minister in the Turnbull Government Advertisement

'I went to tackle him. I ran at him and missed and the rest is history,' he said on 2GB radio.

'Everyone knows Tony Abbott is a very fit man, he is a very strong man and I am not at the peak of my powers as far as fitness and strength is concerned and I lost.'

Mr Briggs said he then promptly limped back to his office to 'lick his wounds', claiming that he left the party before a costly marble table was shattered.

The 38-year-old politician was being grilled over his involvement in damaging the expensive table, which was found in ruins the day after the party, when he made the candid confession.

There had been much speculation the Italian table shattered under the weight of Mr Briggs, who was rumoured to be dancing on top of it to the Elvis Presley tune 'Suspicious Minds'.

'I would love to play with the story but I'd left by that point. I'd injured my knee in hi-jinks with the former prime minister,' Mr Briggs said.

Earlier, the injured politician said that reports of table dancing were 'just wrong' and that he didn't have a clue how it had broken because by then he had 'limped' back to his office.

Malcolm Turnbull said he has been disappointed by the former minister's conduct

Statements by the PM Malcolm Turnbull on the double blow to his Cabinet on Tuesday, December 29

In a double blow for the Cabinet, Special Minister of State, Mal Brough, will stand down from the front-bench pending police inquiries into the leaking of former Speaker Peter Slipper's diary.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek has labelled it 'the Turnbull Government's taking out the trash day'.

She said the decision to dump the two ministers meant the government 'is planning an early election'.

'The government has decided to use this quiet time between Christmas and new year to get all the bad news out in one go.'

Finance Minister Senator Mathias Cormann and Defence Minister Marise Payne will take over Mr Brough's two portfolios.

'Taking out the trash day': Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek claims Malcolm Turnbull is preparing for an early election by dumping two ministers