Prime Minister Scott Morrison has heard a direct account of bullying within the Liberal Party in a meeting with senator Lucy Gichuhi that intensifies debate about the party’s treatment of women.

Senator Gichuhi revealed the conversation amid speculation she might use parliamentary privilege to outline her experience of bullying and intimidation in the lead-up to the removal of Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister.

The conversation has also changed her mind on whether to speak out in the Senate on the bullying concerns, with her spokesman saying she would not go ahead with an earlier suggestion she would use parliamentary privilege to talk about the problem.

Fairfax Media has been told there have been no complaints about bullying put to the Liberal Party whip in federal Parliament, Nola Marino, and no plans for an internal investigation into the matter.