A tribunal has held a secret hearing to decide if details of a claim on the federal government by the former Treasury official behind the Utegate scandal should be made public.

Fairfax Media on Monday revealed Godwin Grech had recently settled three cases he had lodged against the government's workplace insurer.

It is believed that Mr Grech's claims involve his ill health leading up to his explosive allegations.

The matters went before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal but were settled out of court in June.

But the details of Mr Grech's case remain confidential.

Fairfax Media sought access to the case's documents, and the application was opposed by Mr Grech's lawyers.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal had invited Fairfax Media to attend a hearing on Wednesday morning to decide the issue of access, but the matter was stood down until noon after Mr Grech's lawyer became aware members of the press were present.

Tribunal senior member Professor Robin Creyke closed the afternoon session, excluding the public from attending.

Fairfax Media will argue its case for access at a future hearing on some later date.

Godwin Grech Secret Hearing on Workplace Insurance Claim