Samantha Maiden, the national political editor for News Corp's Sunday papers, published a column on Sunday morning highly critical of Mr Briggs' conduct. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Dutton responded by sending a text intended for Mr Briggs in which he called Maiden a "mad f---ing witch". Instead, it was sent to Maiden's text message inbox. On Monday, Maiden said there were "more substantial issues" to consider in the aftermath of Mr Briggs' resignation.

"Peter Dutton has stuffed up, he's owned up and he's 'fessed up," Maiden told ABC radio on Monday morning. Veteran journalist Samantha Maiden. "I would be lying if I was trying to manufacture outrage ... I'm not offended by it. "I do think there are more substantial issues involved here, including the disclosure of these photographs and text messages." A pixelated photograph of the public servant who complained about Mr Briggs' behaviour was published in weekend newspapers. Mr Briggs has confirmed he distributed the photo to colleagues.

The photo - showing the public servant with Mr Briggs' chief-of-staff, Stuart Eaton, on the night in question - was accompanied by private text messages sent by her to Mr Eaton, as well as her age and job description. When asked if Mr Dutton should resign for the "witch" text, Maiden told Nine's Today program she "would hope not". "I think that Mr Dutton is a good minister; he's a hard worker, he's made a strong contribution to the government," she said. On Monday, Education Minister Simon Birmingham praised Mr Dutton for owning up to the text mishap and acting quickly to stop a "witch hunt". "It's unfortunate and Peter obviously recognises that and immediately contacted the journalist to apologise.

"He's taken quick action there to recognise it wasn't appropriate." The public sector union labelled the leak of the public servant's photo a "gross breach of privacy". "If this kind of gross breach of privacy had come from a senior departmental official, or any other public sector worker for that matter, that person would be facing serious repercussions," Michael Tull, the assistant national secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union, said. "People should feel safe to raise their concerns without this kind of blowback. "It's never easy for a person who works in the public sector to raise inappropriate behaviour, especially when a politician is involved."

In a statement on Sunday evening, Mr Dutton said he "had a laugh" with Maiden about the text bungle. "Sam and I have exchanged some robust language over the years, so we had a laugh after this and I apologised to her straight away, which she took in good faith," Mr Dutton said. "I'm expecting a tough time in her next column!" Follow us on Twitter