Christian Porter and Linda Reynolds downgraded cabinet roles

The two ministers who sparked Scott Morrison’s emergency March reshuffle, Christian Porter and Linda Reynolds, were both demoted from their high-profile roles on Monday.

Christian Porter and Linda Reynolds. Picture: AFP

The two ministers who sparked Scott Morrison’s emergency March reshuffle, Christian Porter and Linda Reynolds, were both ­demoted from their high-profile roles on Monday.

Mr Porter — the outgoing ­attorney-general and leader of the house — said he had no regrets about launching a court ­action against the ABC over the airing of rape allegations against him, despite losing his roles due to a perception of conflict of interest.

Senator Reynolds was moved out of defence to government services after taking medical leave in the midst of allegations that a former Liberal staffer was raped in her office, and the Prime Minister said they agreed she could handle a heart condition easier with a domestic portfolio.

Mr Porter said on Monday he had no choice but to sue the ABC over allegations he raped a woman in 1988. The complainant has since died and Mr Porter strenuously denies the allegations.

“Given the false claims made about me by the ABC, I had no ­alternative but to launch defamation proceedings and I have no regrets about taking that course of action,” he said.

“The Federal Court action will allow for the truthfulness of the claims made by the ABC to be tested. I look forward to having these issues determined in a procedurally fair process with actual rules of evidence.”

Mr Morrison decided this week to move Mr Porter to the lower-profile role of Industry Minister, after Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue advised there was the perception of a conflict of interest with the nation’s first law officer taking out action in court.

When the allegations against Mr Porter were first raised earlier this month, both he and Mr Morrison said he deserved the presumption of innocence and should not stand down over an allegation police had decide not to investigate further.

They raised the precedent set by former opposition leader Bill Shorten, who did not stand aside when Victoria Police investigated — and later decided not to proceed with — a rape allegation against him.

Senator Reynolds took a month’s medical leave for a pre-existing heart condition after she faced accusations she had mishandled Ms Higgins’s rape ­allegations.

The Australian later revealed she had called Ms Higgins a “lying cow” in front of her staff.

She was forced to apologise and settle a defamation action with her former staffer.