Head Of Pms Division Pauses Inquiry Into Brittany Higgins Rape Allegations Over Afp Concerns

Following the airing of an historic claim made by a woman that she was allegedly raped by a person who is presently a member of the federal cabinet, Scott Morrison has been referred to as upon to arrange an inquiry. Brittany Higgins mentioned she was sexually assaulted by a colleague inside Parliament House. “I recognize he is finally feeling it, however this girl has gone through an awful ordeal,” Stefanovic said. The prime minister told the home final week that Gaetjens had not “offered me with an extra update about once I may anticipate that report, but I have little doubt that the opposition will have the ability to ask questions of him in Senate estimates subsequent week”. Phil Gaetjens has paused his inquiry into contact between Scott Morrison’s political employees and Brittany Higgins as a result of it may disrupt a criminal investigation into the rape allegation by the Australian federal police.

Reynolds, Higgins’ boss at the time, knew all the main points of the alleged rape inside a week of the incident. Controversy arose following Higgins’ public announcement concerning Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s awareness of the allegations. In late February 2021, it emerged that several other politicians, in addition to Reynolds, had identified concerning the alleged rape but didn’t inform the Prime Minister. Senate President Scott Ryan knew about “an incident” the week after it allegedly happened, in March 2019. Michaelia Cash knew about an “unspecified incident” in late 2019 when Higgins started working for her. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton also knew concerning the allegation on eleven February however sought no additional action, nor did he alert the Prime Minister.

Parliament Security Guard Who Discovered Brittany Higgins On The Night Of Her Alleged Rape Speaks Out

Senator Abetz has been accused of making gentle of rape claims made by the previous Liberal staffer. “I accept that these are deeply held views by the senator, however, they don’t seem to be endorsed by our wider group who view this judgment as slut-shaming. Ms Hickey announced earlier this week she was quitting the state Liberals to run as an impartial after being told she would not be endorsed by the party for the subsequent election. “He then mentioned ‘as for that Higgins lady, anyone who is so disgustingly drunk who would sleep with anyone, might have slept with certainly one of our spies and put the safety of our nation in danger’.” Thousands of Australians have rallied across the nation, calling on political leaders to make larger strides in the direction of equality and ending violence in the direction of girls. They gathered in entrance of the Parliament House in Canberra, within a few hundred meters of the place political leaders can make the modifications protesters seek.

While some authorized experts have opposed calls for an inquiry, others urged the Prime Minister to conduct an independent investigation into the allegation, together with Wong, Hanson-Young and the deceased’s lawyer. However, Morrison refused to take action, stating it was unnecessary if the police had closed their case. Proponents of an inquiry compare the state of affairs to that which led to an inquiry into behaviour of former High Court of Australia decide Dyson Heydon in 2020. People who regard an inquiry as pointless evaluate the situation to when then-opposition leader Bill Shorten was accused in 2014 of raping a lady in 1986.

Nsw Government Mp Denies Rape Allegation

Thousands joined rallies in Australia’s major cities, i.e., Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Hobart, on March 15. “It was strongly advisable to carry off finalizing interviews with workers until police may clarify any attainable crossover,” said Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw. Anderson issued them with momentary passes, took them to the office, unlocked the door, and allow them to in however didn’t stay. Senate President Scott Ryan additionally came beneath fire for refusing to answer questions in regards to the alleged assault. Mr Kershaw said the allegation made by Ms Higgins was serious and being pursued by the AFP via its ACT policing arm.

• This post deals with allegations of sexual assault and might be triggering for some readers.
• Explosive text messages have cast serious doubt over when the prime minister’s office first knew about the alleged rape of a Liberal staffer.
• When Ms Higgins walked through the metal detector, her sneakers set it off and she or he was informed to take away them and take a look at again.
• It alleged that a sixteen-12 months-old woman had been raped in Sydney in 1988 by a man who was now a member of Cabinet.
• There are at present four separate inquiries into the shocking allegations made by Higgins.
• Ms Hickey told state parliament she spoke with Senator Abetz on March 1 at a Hobart City Council citizenship ceremony and requested if a federal minister accused of a rape that occurred about 30 years in the past was Christian Porter.

Hickey additionally alleged that Abetz told her “to not worry” concerning the 1988 rape allegation in opposition to federal Attorney-General Christian Porter as “the lady is dead and the legislation will protect “. Abetz “categorically denied” making the comments and accused Hickey of “trying to destroy the celebration”. Hickey responded in reply to Abetz accusing him of “grubby politics” and that she stood by her statement. Over the following weeks, three extra ladies alleged they had been sexual harassed or assaulted by the same man, nonetheless not publicly named, between 2016 and 2020.

Scott Morrison Says Cupboard Minister Named In Anonymous Letter ‘vigorously’ Rejected Rape Allegation

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