Christian Porter denies historic rape allegation against him

Christian Porter warned a “new normal” of trial by social media was a threat to due process in Australia as he strenuously denied historical rape allegations against him.

An emotional and at times nearly tearful Christian Porter warned that a “new normal” of trial by social media was a threat to fairness and due process in Australia as he strenuously denied historical rape allegations against him.

“The things that have been claimed to happen did not happen,” Attorney-General Mr Porter said, as he revealed that he was the cabinet minister who stood accused of sexually assaulting a young woman when the two were student debaters at a tournament in Sydney in 1988.

“Nothing in the allegations that have been printed ever happened.”

Christian Porter at the press conference.

Christian Porter at the press conference.

He apologised to the family of the woman who made the claims and who took her own life last year in South Australia, saying: “I do not mean to impose anything more upon your grief.

“I hope that you will also ­understand that because what is being alleged did not happen, I must say so publicly.”

He added he was “deeply sorry” for the stress the claims had put on the Morrison government, and particularly his male cabinet colleagues.

But Mr Porter was also defiant, saying he had been subjected to a campaign of smears and rumours and that he had never been given the opportunity to contest the charges.

An image of Porter and the woman, now deceased, who accused him or rape. Picture: news.com.au

“No one put anything in any detail to me seeking a response. None of the senior politicians or ex-politicians that have known about these allegations and rumours put them to me,” he said.

“No journalist has put the detail of the allegations to me in a way that would allow seeking a response, not ever.

“While I have followed the rules and stayed silent I have been subject to the most wild, intense and unrestrained series of accusations I can remember, in modern Australian politics,” he said.

“Maybe that’s the new normal, I hope for everyone’s sake, it’s not.”

WON’T STAND DOWN

Mr Porter also said he would not step down or resign from cabinet.

However, he said he was taking a short leave “to assess and hopefully improve my own mental health”.

Mr Porter spoke passionately about the need for fairness and due process and the danger of ­public officials and private citizens’ lives being ruined on the basis of ­allegations alone.

“If I stand down from my position as Attorney-General because of an allegation about something that simply did not happen, then any person in Australia can lose their career, their job, their life’s work based on nothing more than an accusation that appears in print,” he said.

Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter at the press conference in Perth. Picture: Sharon Smith / NCA NewsWire

“If that happens, anyone in public life is able to be removed simply by the printing of an allegation.

“Every child we raise can have their lives destroyed by online reporting of accusations alone.

“My guess is if I were to resign and that set a new standard, there wouldn’t be much need for an Attorney-General anyway because there would be no rule of law left to protect in this country.”

PROBLEMS NOT OVER

Mr Porter’s denials and the fact that NSW Police has closed the case will not end Mr Porter’s troubles, or those of the government.

Labor has indicated it will continue to press the government on the issue.

“This will require further leadership and action from the Prime Minister,” Labor leader Anthony Albanese said before Mr Porter’s media conference.

Christian Porter at the press conference.

Christian Porter at the press conference.

South Australian coroner David Whittle held open the possibility of an inquest into the death of the woman at the heart of the complaint.

“The investigation is continuing,” he said.

Indigenous leader Warren Mundine applauded Mr Porter’s conduct, tweeting: “I’m watching this live and I cannot believe what a disgrace the (Australian) media (is). This is trial by media. It makes me sick.”

MR PORTER’S RECOLLECTION

■Mr Porter said he knew the woman “for the briefest periods at debating competitions”.

■The pair represented Australia at the World Schools Debating Championship at Sydney University in early 1988.

■There were two others in the team. “We were friends. We hung out together … I’d always remembered it as a happy time.”

■The complainant demonstrated how to iron a shirt for Mr Porter and two friends in their rooms at a university college.

■After a formal dinner for the debating tournament, the group went dancing at the Hard Rock Cafe.

■Mr Porter said: “I did not sleep with the victim.”

■His last interaction with the woman was in January 1988.