Part-time Christian Porter on full-time salary, says Labor’s Kristina Keneally

Labor’s Kristina Keneally accuses the Morrison government of double standards over the Attorney-General’s defamation suit.

Scott Morrison has been accused of double standards for allowing Christian Porter back to work while fighting a defamation suit against the ABC. Picture: Getty

Opposition home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally has accused the Morrison government of allowing Attorney-General Christian Porter to resume his cabinet role on a “part-time” basis with a “full-time salary” when he returns to parliament at the end of the month.

Mr Porter, who has faced a historic rape allegation that police will not pursue, will return to parliament on March 31 with reduced ministerial duties to avoid a conflict of interest with his defamation lawsuit. On Monday he launched defamation proceedings against the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan, claiming he had been subject to a malicious trial by media over coverage of the allegation, which he has denied.

“Let’s look at the proposition that’s being put here; that Christian Porter can return to his job as Attorney-General on a full time salary, but doing the part time work, that parts of his job will be hived-off artificially to other people,” Senator Keneally told the ABC on Sunday.

“He will be given the time and the space on his full time salary to fight his defamation case.”

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if women who are victims of domestic violence in this country had access to paid leave when they have to go to court to escape their abusers.”
“Instead, what women who are in that situation hear from this Prime Minister in his government is you can dip into your own superannuation and fund your own escape. These are people who barely have any savings.”

Kristina Keneally, centre, with Senator Penny Wong at the March 4 Justice rally this week. Picture: Getty

This week Labor used question time to probe Scott Morrison on the Attorney-General’s ministerial duties when he returns to parliament after his medical leave.

The Prime Minister told parliament he was seeking the advice of the Solicitor-General to ensure there would not a conflict of interest after Mr Porter launched Federal Court defamation proceedings. Mr Morrison has ruled out Mr Porter being involved in any ministerial duties related to the Federal Court or the ABC when he returns to avoid a conflict of interest.

He told parliament he was awaiting legal advice on whether Mr Porter would remain involved in defamation legislation and the Sex Discrimination Act.

Mr Porter’s defamation case will be heard in the Federal Court for the first time in May.

He emphatically denied the allegations that he sexually assaulted a young woman in January 1998 when he was 17-years-old.