Scott Morrison called out of handling of rape claim against Cabinet Minister

The PM has been slammed for his handling of the historical rape allegation against a Minister, with Anthony Albanese saying “it won’t go away”.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has slammed the Prime Minister for failing to even read the unsworn witness statement of a woman who claimed to be raped by a cabinet minister hinting he may support an independent inquiry into the matter.

The cabinet minister is preparing to publicly declare his innocence and relinquish his anonymity on Wednesday, but Mr Albanese said today he was “very disappointed” with how Prime Minister Scott Morrison had handled the issue and that further leadership was required.

Now that the NSW police have confirmed the case is closed because with the woman’s death there is a lack of admissible evidence to consider, Mr Albanese said further steps must be taken.

“I was very disappointed by Scott Morrison’s statement yesterday where he said that he hadn’t read the documentation that was forwarded to him by the woman who was at the centre of the allegations who then took her own life,’’ Mr Albanese said.

“He then also said, essentially, that he had spoken to the Minister and that he believed the minister. That stands in stark contrast to what Scott Morrison said in May of 2019 about the need to believe people. Who come forward.”

May 3, 2019 pic.twitter.com/lv27E0Wofr

— Samantha Maiden (@samanthamaiden) March 1, 2021

On Monday, Mr Morrison confirmed he had spoken to the minister and he “vigorously denied” the allegations. But he did not issue a blanket denial of the claims. Asked if he believed his minister’s denials he said that was a matter for police and that “I am not the police commissioner.”

Those comments were made before the NSW police confirmed they will not proceed with the case. No charges have ever been laid against the minister.

“Quite clearly, this woman told multiple people, including people in public life, but also her friends that she wanted an investigation of this,’’ Mr Albanese said.

“It is very clear that the Prime Minister are pretending that this will go away, it will not.

“The call of the woman’s friends for an appropriate investigation, whether that be through a proper coronial inquiry in South Australia that examines all circumstances of this woman’s death, or whether it be another form of an independent investigation at arm’s length, such as what occurred in the High Court, looking at allegations against Dyson Heydon, it is very clear that, in my mind, that this will require further leadership and action from the Prime Minister and I await the statement by the minister involved.”

However, Mr Albanese stressed the cabinet minister had the right to the presumption of innocence.

“The presumption of innocence is a critical part of our legal system but now that the existing legal processes have been unable to proceed, certainly in terms of NSW Police, I think people will be looking for further responses beyond any statement that might be made today by the minister,’’ he said.

Asked about Labor’s preference for an inquiry, Mr Albanese said he would await the minister’s response.

Scott Morrison says the Cabinet Minister denies the claims.

“But it is very clear that when you have such a serious allegation made against a serving cabinet minister, I have said that the Prime Minister needs to assure not just himself, but assured the Australian people that the cabinet minister is fit to serve in his current role,’’ he said.

“Now, that is something that requires a bit more than just a discussion with the Minister, I think that is pretty clear to anyone who examines this, this is a disturbing allegation, the detail I understand that when the accusation that was made by the woman is very detailed, and quite harrowing, and I think people are looking for leadership on this issue.

“Scott Morrison is in a position to provide that leadership, and I think his response yesterday was inadequate given that he said that he had not even read the statement that was put forward.

“But it is very clear that if the Government thinks that this ends with just a statement consistent with what the Prime Minister said yesterday, there is something to see how in terms of detail, and people needed to know what the response is.

“I make no statement as to the accuracy of what has been put forward. What we know is that it has not been properly examined, and that a serious allegation like this against a cabinet listed deserves to be examined and in terms of, the minister is of course entitled to the presumption of innocence as all Australians are, but there is also an assumption that when a serious allegation is made in such a comprehensive way, that it will be examined.

“People want to see justice done, and that sits with the presumption of innocence, thank you very much.”