Liberal backbencher Sophie Mirabella is embroiled in a legal battle with the family of her former de facto partner,Colin Howard, over his will. Howard, who passed away on September 2, had made Mirabella power of attorney, medical and financial but his children are planning to contest this.
In 1994, when Sophie Mirabella was 26-years-old, then Panopoulos, she began a defacto relationship with a Howard, who was 40 years older than her.
The former crown counsel for Victoria was said to be the inspiration of her political career and supported her financially and emotionally. Howard remained close with Mirabella even when she was married Greg Mirabella, a former army reserve officer. Around 2007, Howard’s mental state began to deteriorate and his children became increasingly suspicious of Mirabella’s relationship with their father.
Mirabella has since refused to comment on this issue and read this statement to The Australian: “It is less than 12 days since Dr Howard was buried and no application has been made to obtain grant of probate of his will. There is no public interest in denigrating the memory of a private man.”