The cabinet minister at the centre of historical rape allegations should stand aside and an independent investigation should be conducted, Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says.
Her calls come after she on Friday received a “hefty document” containing a letter from the dead victim’s friend as well as a statement to police that the woman had prepared with her solicitor about an alleged incident in 1988.
Senator Hanson-Young forwarded the information to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) but said there was a plea for an independent inquiry to resolve the matter.
“There is a very serious allegation now against a senior member of this government’s cabinet, and it can’t be resolved by the police because this woman has died and the rules around these issues in NSW,” Senator Hanson-Young told ABC Breakfast.
“We need to see the Prime Minister today announce an independent investigation, ask the man to step aside while that is done.
“This woman needs to have her voice heard and this man, if he is innocent, he needs to be able to clear his name.”
The letter containing the “harrowing” account from the woman – who was aged 16 at the time of the alleged incident – was sent to both Labor senator Penny Wong and Scott Morrison, whose offices also reported the information to police.
But Senator Hanson-Young said a “crisis of integrity” was now hanging over the Morrison government and cabinet.
“The fact that we haven’t heard a word from the Prime Minister in the last three days, his silence is deafening,” she said.
“I urge him today, if you have not read this document, please do read it.
“I can’t imagine how this lingers on … and it draws into question the very integrity of government, trust within the ministries, trust within politics.”
Outspoken senator Jacqui Lambie has questioned whether Mr Morrison had the “emotional intelligence” to address the issue engulfing the parliament.
“These allegations are not going away, I imagine there will be more to come over the next month,” Senator Lambie told Today.
“This is not something he can chuck under the bridge and say nothing to see here.
“He needs to stand up, start being a leader, start being the prime minister and start investigating this.”
Senator Lambie said she expected Mr Morrison’s failure to connect with survivors of sexual assault would result in a “whack at his ratings” over the next few months.
She warned that if he did not start setting examples to use as a deterrence, “nothing will change”.
But Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said police were the “most appropriate authorities” to handle allegations, and that adhering to the rule of law also meant the presumption of innocence.
He said it was up to the AFP to make further comments on matters referred to them.
“We have been very concerned about the allegations and, of course, the stories that have come to light over recent weeks,” Mr Frydenberg said.
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson on Sunday revealed her office had received information from a woman alleging she had been “raped by a man” who was now a federal Labor politician. She too had referred the claim to the AFP.
Labor backbencher Joel Fitzgibbon told Sunrise he had “no idea what Labor is doing” about the incident.
However, he said Mr Morrison was the only person capable of determining if the cabinet minister at the centre of the historical rape allegations should stay on.
“Whatever decision he takes, he will be tested and judged by others in the longer run,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
https://news.google.com/__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?oc=5
2021-02-28 22:35:08Z
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