In fairness to Christian Porter, his denial cannot end the matter
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March 3, 2021 â 6.05pm
March 3, 2021 â 6.05pm
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Attorney-General Christian Porter stood before the nation on Wednesday and revealed he was the member of federal cabinet accused â falsely, he insisted â of an historical sexual assault. It âjust never happenedâ, he said.
The rumours about an unnamed minister had been circulating for some days, but no major news outlet had published his name in connection with the claims â out of a concern about defamation law, but also to preserve the right of the minister to procedural fairness.
In fairness to Christian Porter, his denial cannot end the matter smh.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from smh.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Calls for independent inquiry ACCOUNTABILITY, NOW
Note: This story discusses sexual assault and suicide.
Friends of the now-deceased woman who accused a current cabinet minister of raping her in 1988 have urged Scott Morrison to hold an independent inquiry, ABC’s
Four Corners reports, with a friend who was with the woman on the night of the alleged rape offering to make a police statement. Several have also paid tribute to the “smart”, “forthright”, and “extraordinary” woman at
The news comes after Morrison said the minister “vigorously rejected” the allegations, while
Guardian Australia reports the prime minister was aware of “rumours” of the alleged assault earlier this year but said he had not felt the need to investigate further and was only briefed on last week’s 31-page dossier of allegations. He yesterday declined to launch an independent inquiry, declaring it is up to police to “determine the veracity of any allegations of this nature”.