Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dismissed calls to stand down a Cabinet Minister at the centre of a historical rape allegation, saying the minister involved “vigorously rejected” the accusation.
An anonymous letter detailing the allegation was sent to Mr Morrison, Labor Senator Penny Wong and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young last Friday, with the complaint referred to the Australian Federal Police.
The letter contained details of an alleged rape of a woman in 1988 when she was 16 years old.
Asked if he had confronted the MP and whether the MP had denied the allegations, Mr Morrison said: “Yes, I have and he absolutely does.”
“The individual involved here has vigorously rejected these allegations, and so it’s a matter for the police,” he said.
The Australian Federal Police has confirmed it received a complaint relating to a historical sexual assault.
NSW Police suspended its investigation into the matter after the woman at the centre of the allegations took her own life last year.
Speaking for the first time since the allegation was made public, Mr Morrison said he had been briefed on the contents of the anonymous letter – but did not say whether he had read the woman’s claims.
He also confirmed he had discussed the incident with AFP Commissioner but said these did not raise any “immediate” issue he should act on.
Mr Morrison said he would not take any specific action beyond leaving the allegations in the hands of police.
“We can’t have a situation where the mere making of an allegation, and that being publicised through the media, is grounds for governments to stand people down simply on the basis of that,” he said.
“We have a rule of law in this country and it’s appropriate that these things were referred to the federal police – they have been. They’re the people who are competent and authorised to deal with issues of this sensitivity and this seriousness.”
Asked if he believed the allegations were false, Mr Morrison insisted that it was a matter for the police to determine.
This is despite the fact the NSW police investigation into these matters had been suspended because the woman who made the allegations has since died.
Labor deputy leader Richard Marles said a decision on standing the minister aside would be for Mr Morrison to make.
“The buck stops with the Prime Minister, he needs to assure himself of the appropriateness of all his ministers to serve in the context of whatever processes need to play out,” he said.
Greens Senator Hanson-Young had earlier called for the minister to be stood aside pending an independent investigation into the allegations.
“It is just not right to suggest that this type of allegation could linger, hang over the heads of the entire cabinet,” she told ABC radio.
“Sitting around that table erodes the trust the integrity and belief that this government takes sexual assault seriously.”
Marque Lawyers partner, Michael Bradley, who represented the woman when she took the complaint to police, has also questioned whether the minister could do his job with his integrity under question.
“The fact remains a sitting senior Cabinet Minister has been accused of a very serious crime and it’s untenable that he continues in his role without that being addressed and dealt with,” he told SBS News.
“To pretend otherwise is defying reality.”
Mr Bradley also called for an independent inquiry to be held into the matter.
“If the minister himself is not prepared to stand down, then the Prime Minister needs to take action, stand the minister down and institute an independent inquiry,” he said.
The allegations have come to light in the wake of Brittany Higgins going public with her account alleging she was raped by a male colleague inside Parliament House.
The alleged incident has sparked four inquiries into workplace culture and the handling of harassment complaints inside Parliament.
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson has also forwarded police an email from another woman who claims she was raped by a serving Labor MP in a separate incident.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg earlier said the government minister at the centre of those allegations was entitled to the presumption of innocence.
“Here in Australia we adhere to the rule of law and fundamental to the rule of law is the presumption of innocence. Every Australian deserves that right,” he told reporters.
Like this story? Here’s where else you can find SBS News content and follow us:
SBS News website: Save our website sbs.com.au/news as a favourite.
SBS News app: Download our app from Apple’s App Store or Google Play and subscribe to the alerts.
SBS News newsletters: Get the latest delivered to your email inbox by subscribing here.
Apple News: Follow the SBS News channel here on an Apple device.
Twitter: Follow us at twitter.com/SBSNews
Instagram: Follow us at instagram.com/sbsnews_au
YouTube: Subscribe at youtube.com/c/sbsnews
TikTok: Follow us at tiktok.com/@sbsnews_au
Reddit: Join us at reddit.com/r/sbsnewsau
SBS also publishes news in 68 languages online and on radio. Find your language at sbs.com.au/language.
You can also find stories from Dateline, Insight, The Feed and NITV on their websites and social media platforms.
