Australia police drop historical rape case inquiry into minister

AUSTRALIAN police yesterday closed an investigation into allegations of rape against a cabinet minister after deciding there was not enough “admissible evidence” to proceed.

The decision by New South Wales police adds pressure on Scott Morrison, the prime minister, to set up an independent inquiry to examine accusations that the unnamed politician raped a 16-year-old-girl more than 30 years ago.

The allegation is fuelling complaints of a culture within parliament that is toxic for women.

The rape accusation was contained in an anonymous letter sent to the prime minister’s office and to three female politicians last week.

The 31-page document contained a statement from a complainant, taken by her lawyer, that detailed a rape she said occurred in Sydney in 1988.

The minister had not been elected to parliament at the time.

The letter, which included excerpts from her diary and a photograph of her in 1988 with her alleged rapist, was then forwarded to police.

The woman, who has not been named, took her own life in her home city of Adelaide in June.

Mr Morrison on Monday rejected calls to stand the minister down and to establish an inquiry, saying police should investigate.

Police, however, yesterday concluded that there was “insufficient admissible evidence to proceed” in the light of the complainant’s death.

Mr Morrison said the minister “vigorously and completely denied the allegations”.

But the woman’s lawyer, Michael

Bradley, and several critics of the gov- ernment have called for the unnamed minister to step down while an independent inquiry examines the evidence.

Nicholas Cowdery, the former chief prosecutor in New South Wales, said the allegation needed to be investigated to give voters confidence in the integrity of those governing them.

The accused minister should step down, he said.

“When something like this emerges, we need to know what is involved in it, does it disqualify that person from occupying that position and what action should be taken,” Mr Cowdrey told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“The only way to do that is to run an investigation – not a criminal investigation, but an investigation with a political context run maybe by someone like a retired judge.”