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Attorney-General Christian Porter denies alleged historical rape
By David Crowe
Attorney-General Christian Porter has gone public to deny allegations of rape after days of conjecture about his identity and a NSW Police decision to close its investigation into the case.
Mr Porter denied the accusation he raped a woman in January 1988 and said he intended to remain in cabinet and in his portfolio.
Attorney-General Christian Porter speaking at a press conference on Wednesday.Credit: Nine News
The Attorney-General made his statement after the NSW Police said it did not have enough admissible evidence to proceed with an investigation it began in February last year but suspended in June when the woman took her own life.
“Nothing in the allegations that have been printed ever happened,” he said.
Mr Porter rejected calls for an independent investigation and said he would not resign as Attorney-General because that would mean anyone could lose their job on the basis of unproven accusations.
“I did not sleep with the victim. We didn’t have anything of that nature happen between us,” Mr Porter told a press conference in Perth.
“I can say to you all it didn’t happen. But I can’t criticise or mount a defence or cross-examine someone. I am just not going to do that to the family of this poor woman....I remember it as a happy time. It was 33 years ago. I remember the person as an intelligent, bright, happy person. But I haven’t had any contact with this person at all since 1988.”
Asked if he could have forgotten what happened, Mr Porter said, “Could I have forgotten or misconstrued the things that I have read, which are said to have occurred? Absolutely not. They just didn’t happen”.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese said earlier on Wednesday the concerns about the allegation “would not go away”.
The woman alleged the rape took place in Sydney in January 1988 and made the claim to NSW Police in February last year, but the investigation was suspended in June when she took her own life.
The South Australian Police is investigating the woman’s death in her home city of Adelaide on behalf of the state coroner.
While the woman prepared a lengthy document about her experience, the NSW Police said on Tuesday the woman did not provide a formal witness statement and there was no evidence to continue the investigation so it has been closed.
“Following the woman’s death, NSW Police came into possession of a personal document purportedly made by the woman previously. NSW Police have since sought legal advice in relation to these matters,” the police said.
“Based on information provided to NSW Police, there is insufficient admissible evidence to proceed. As such, NSW Police Force has determined the matter is now closed.”
Mr Albanese did not call for the minister to stand aside or resign but said Prime Minister Scott Morrison should not let the police statement be the end of the matter.
“This will require further leadership and action from the Prime Minister,” Mr Albanese said, speaking before the minister’s statement.
Attorney-General Christian Porter at a press conference on Wednesday.Credit: Nine News
“The presumption of innocence is a critical part of our legal system, but now that the existing legal processes are unable to proceed, certainly in terms of NSW Police, I think people will be looking for further responses.”
The ABC reported on Friday night that friends of the woman had sent Mr Morrison and other politicians an anonymous letter accusing Mr Porter of rape and including the woman’s personal statement.
Some of her friends have since revealed she told them of the 1988 rape at the end of 2019. One friend, Dhanya Mani, said the woman approached her after Ms Mani spoke in public about sexual harassment in politics in July that year.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said he received a letter from the woman in June 2020 and spoke to South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens about her claims soon afterwards.
South Australian Police confirmed it received some correspondence and that Mr Stevens spoke to Mr Turnbull.
“It remains a matter for the state coroner and SAPOL will not be making any further comment,” a police spokesperson said.
Mr Morrison asked Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw to consider the matter last week after the anonymous letter surfaced, but the police chief clarified the scope of the federal inquiries.
National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line: 1800 737 732. Crisis support can be found at Lifeline: (13 11 14 and lifeline.org.au), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467 and suicidecallbackservice.org.au) and beyondblue (1300 22 4636 and beyondblue.org.au).