Malcolm Turnbull calls for inquest into death of woman who alleged she was raped by a current federal minister

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has called for an inquest into the death of a woman who alleged she was raped by a current federal minister in 1988.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has called for an inquest into the death of a woman who alleged she was raped by a current member of federal cabinet in 1988.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has called for an inquest into the death of a woman who alleged she was raped by a current federal minister in 1988.

Speaking at an Adelaide Writers’ Week event on Sunday, Mr Turnbull said the woman had written to him and his wife Lucy in 2019 to ask for their advice.

“She described a pretty horrific rape that she said had occurred at the hands of this person,” he told the crowd on Sunday.

“Among the things she noted, I might say, is that she’d kept extensive diaries, so I hope they’re still extant.

“We wrote back to her, obviously expressed our sympathy and, really our concern for her and what she’d experienced, but said ‘you’ve got a lawyer, you’re seeing the police, that’s the right thing to do’, and that was.”

Allegations of the rape sent shockwaves through federal parliament this week after anonymous letters detailing the claim were sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Labor senate leader Penny Wong and Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

The matter has now been referred to the Australian Federal Police.

The woman died by suicide in June 2020 after making a report to NSW Police in February that year.

Mr Turnbull said he contacted South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens in relation to the matter after the woman died.

“I sent him the correspondence she sent us and our reply,” he said.

“There clearly needs to be some form of inquest so, I don’t know what the process is here … but I think there should be.”

The woman’s friends, including lawyers and business leaders, have also called for a coronial inquiry into her death.

The new allegations come amid continuing pressure on the government over its handling of a rape claim in Parliament House made by former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins in 2019.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said he was not made aware of the incident until the days before it was made public.

But Mr Turnbull said it was unbelievable that his office had not been notified, and said it “seems incredible” that the prime minister himself was not told.

“The proposition that the prime minister’s office was not advised of this incident, to use an inadequate term, in the defence minister’s office ... is just utterly unbelievable.”

“I find it extraordinary that he wasn’t told about this.”