Porter may still face scrutiny over secret donations

Tom McIlroyCanberra Bureau Chief

Oct 21, 2021 – 5.34pm

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Labor has slammed the Coalition over moves to shield Christian Porter from scrutiny over his use of secret donations to pay legal bills, describing a review by a powerful parliamentary committee as a diversion.

The opposition sought to have the Privileges Committee consider the former attorney-general’s decision to accept funds from a secret trust on Wednesday. Mr Porter used the money to pay fees related to his aborted defamation action against the ABC over reporting of historical rape allegations dating back to the 1980s.

Tom McIlroy is the Financial Review’s Canberra bureau chief based in the press gallery at Parliament House. He was previously the AFR’s political correspondent.