Senator Jacqui Lambie pushes for Senate committee to review handling of Christian Porter case

A feisty senator has proposed a review of the handling of the Christian Porter case, thrusting the controversial matter back into the spotlight.

Senator Jacqui Lambie is sensationally proposing the Christian Porter matter go to a Senate committee. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Senator Jacqui Lambie is sensationally proposing the Senate refer the Christian Porter matter to a Senate committee, thrusting the controversial saga back into the spotlight.

The feisty senator from Tasmania took to Twitter on Tuesday night to make public the notice of motion she hopes to move in parliament on Wednesday.

It comes three weeks after Christian Porter dropped his defamation case against the ABC, but sought to claim victory despite failing to secure an apology or retraction from the public broadcaster.

Christian Porter dropped his defamation case against the ABC, but sought to claim victory despite failing to secure an apology or retraction from the public broadcaster. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Adam Yip

The former attorney general launched the defamation case against the ABC in March following a Four Corners report that aired allegations a cabinet minister had been accused of raping a woman in the 1980s.

When Porter subsequently identified himself as the cabinet minister referred to, he strenuously denied the allegations and he has never been charged.

Ms Lambie’s notice of motion made reference to the Prime Minister’s Statement of Ministerial Standards on August 30 in 2018, where it said: “(Ministers) will be required to answer for the consequences of their decisions and actions” and they “must ensure that … their conduct in a private capacity upholds the laws of Australia, and demonstrates appropriately high standards of personal integrity”.

Tomorrow, I’m moving this. Unlike the other shots at setting up an inquiry, this is constitutional, it’s funded, it doesn’t trample of the separation of powers, it’s got terms of reference it can actually answer, and it’s actually able to pass and get moving. pic.twitter.com/YAhvJGboIl

— Jacqui Lambie (@JacquiLambie) June 22, 2021

Ms Lambie said it was the Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s responsibility “to uphold the ministerial standards” and “it does not appear that the Prime Minister has take any significant action to assess whether Minister Porter meets the criteria” mentioned in the reference.

She recommended the matter be referred to the finance and public administration references committee for an inquiry and report by August 10.

Both Mr Porter and the ABC claimed vindication after Mr Porter dropped the defamation case last month.

Senator Jacqui Lambie is sensationally proposing the Christian Porter matter go to a Senate committee. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The national broadcaster insisted it stood by the Four Corners journalist Louise Milligan and the original report, although it did agree to amend the story by adding an editorial statement.

The new statement conceded the rape allegation could not be substantiated to a criminal or civil standard and it did not suggest Mr Porter was guilty of the offence.

Mr Porter’s accuser died last year and as such could never be called to give evidence.

Previous attempts from Greens senator Larissa Waters to set up a commission of inquiry to determine whether Mr Porter was a fit and proper person to be a cabinet minister were blocked by the government last week.

Government senators joined with One Nation and, ironically, Ms Lambie to vote against the bill even being introduced.

Ms Waters’ bill would have been referred to a Senate committee that would then have called witnesses, such as associates of the accuser, Mr Porter and potentially police, to discuss whether the bill calling for an independent investigation needed to be passed.