OZ PM APOLOGISES TO WOMAN WHO CLAIMED SHE WAS RAPED IN PARL

CANBERRA: Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologised on Tuesday to a woman who alleged that she was raped in parliament two years ago for the way her complaint was handled at that time, ordering a probe into the government’s workplace culture.

The woman said on Monday that she had been raped in the office of the current defence minister Linda Reynolds in March 2019 by unnamed colleague who also worked for Morrison’s ruling Liberal party.

She said she spoke with police in early April of that year, but decided against making a formal complaint due to concerns that it would damage her career prospects. She told senior staff in Reynolds’ office of the alleged attack. She said she was then asked to attend a meeting in the office where she alleges she had been assaulted.

Morrison on Tuesday apologised to the woman and promised an investigation.

“That should not have happened, and I do apologise,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra. “I want to make sure any young woman working in this place is as safe as possible.”