Aussie minister in sex rap stays
Allegations of criminal conduct should be dealt with by competent and authorized agencies
CANBERRA (AFP) — Australia’s prime minister rejected calls Monday to suspend a cabinet minister accused of rape, saying the unnamed official “vigorously denied” allegations that have now been referred to police.
Scott Morrison — already under mounting public pressure to tackle what has been called a toxic sexist culture in Canberra politics — insisted the minister was innocent until proven guilty.
“Allegations of criminal conduct should be dealt with by competent and authorized agencies,” Morrison said, adding it was a “matter for the police.”
Morrison recently received a letter detailing allegations that a man currently serving in the cabinet raped a 16-year-old girl in Sydney in 1988.
The woman took her own life last year. The man not been named publicly due to Australia’s defamation laws.
Morrison said he had raised the issue with the minister “who absolutely rejects these allegations.”
“It is the police, in a country where you’re governed by the rule of law, that determine the veracity of any allegations of this nature,” Morrison said in a testy exchange with journalists on Monday.
“The police have had this matter referred to them. The individual involved here has vigorously rejected these allegations. And so, it’s a matter for the police.”
Police said they had “received a complaint relating to an historic sexual assault,” but “will not be making further comment.”
The fact the woman can no longer be questioned and the time elapsed since the alleged attack meant prosecution is unlikely. Australia’s parliament has been repeatedly criticized for a “toxic” workplace culture that has allegedly spawned persistent bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct against women.
Last week Nicolle Flint, a prominent female Liberal member of parliament who publicly complained about sexist abuse, announced she would step down at the next election.