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2021 Australian Parliament House sexual misconduct allegations

January 01, 1970

In February and March 2021, a number of allegations involving rape and other sexual misconduct against women involving the Australian Parliament and federal politicians were raised, causing controversy especially for the federal Liberal–National Morrison government.

2019 rape in Parliament house edit

Background and allegation edit

On 15 February 2021, Liberal Party junior staffer Brittany Higgins alleged to two media outlets, news.com.au and The Project,[1] that she was raped in the early hours of 23 March 2019 in then-Defence Industry Minister Senator Linda Reynolds' office in the ministerial wing of Parliament House by a colleague, later named as Bruce Lehrmann, after security guards admitted the pair into the building.[2][3] Higgins said she became heavily intoxicated at a work party and left with her colleague in a taxi, believing they would both be dropped at their respective homes; instead she said she was taken to Parliament House and raped while slipping in and out of consciousness,[4][5] waking to find her skirt around her waist.[6] In contrast, Lehrmann told police that he and Higgins returned to Parliament House because he needed to pick up his keys, and as Higgins indicated she also needed to return to the office he offered to share his Uber ride.[7] Once they arrived in Reynolds' suite, Lehrmann said he "turned left towards his desk, while Ms Higgins turned right and went to a different part of the office".[7] After working "on a briefing for Parliament's question time," Lehrmann said he left the office without seeing Higgins again.[7][8] Higgins was later found naked,[3][9] inebriated and disoriented in the early hours of the morning in the minister's office.[1]

Three days later, on 26 March 2019, Lehrmann was told by Fiona Brown, Reynolds' chief of staff, to "collect his belongings from the office and leave" because of his late-night entry into the office at 1:48 am on the previous Saturday, and an earlier unrelated incident of him mishandling a classified document,[3][10] with Reynolds consequently terminating Lehrmann's employment formally on 5 April 2019.[11] On 1 April 2019, Reynolds called Higgins to her office to discuss Higgins' late-night entry into the office, which Reynolds "believed to be a security breach [...] describing the decision of two staff to come into the office at 1:40 am as 'highly unusual' and not appropriate".[12] Higgins went to the police after the alleged rape, but dropped the complaint in April 2019, fearful the report would result in termination of her employment.[13] Eventually Higgins transferred to work for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Minister Michaelia Cash for a year before resigning a month before going public with her allegations.[2]

 
Senator for Western Australia Linda Reynolds, who was criticised for her handling of the alleged rape within her office.

Higgins has accused Reynolds of not supporting her due to the politically sensitive nature of the incident in an election year,[4] and claims to have "repeatedly told her superiors in [...] the offices of Cash and [...] Linda Reynolds" about the alleged rape; "Reynolds and Reynolds' chief of staff, Fiona Brown, soon after the alleged rape,[14] including in a meeting on 1 April 2019".[15][16] However, "Brown disputes Higgins' timeline",[15] and during the trial Reynolds told the court "that she did not know of a sexual assault allegation when she called Brittany to her office", the office where the alleged rape occurred.[12][4]

Controversy also arose following Higgins's public announcement regarding Scott Morrison's awareness of the allegations. Morrison, the Prime Minister at the time, denied any knowledge of the assault until Monday 15 February 2021.[17][18] In late February 2021 it emerged that Scott Ryan knew about the security incident on 27 March 2019, and Tony Smith found out about it on 8 April 2019.[18][19] Ryan, who was Senate President at the time, and Smith, who was Speaker, were jointly responsible for security in Parliament House at the time and only became aware of Higgins and the alleged sexual assault on Friday 12 February 2021,[18][19] with Ryan saying he only knew the full details on that Friday.[20] Higgins also claims to have "told Cash [...] multiple times", and recorded a February 2021 conversation with Cash to collect "evidence that Cash had known about her alleged rape since 2019".[15] However, during the trial Michaelia Cash said she knew about a security incident in late 2019 when Higgins began working for her, but only became aware of the rape allegation on 5 February 2021.[15] Peter Dutton, Home Affairs Minister at the time, also knew about the allegation on 11 February 2021 but sought no further action, nor did he alert the prime minister.[20] The prime minister's office seemed to have known details on Friday 12 February 2021, when it first got questions from news.com.au, but for some reason staff did not tell the prime minister until Monday 15 February 2021,[20] at minimum two full weekend news cycles later. Higgins criticised Morrison's response and cast doubts over his claim of ignorance.[21]

Response to allegation edit

Reynolds publicly apologised to Higgins, as did Morrison.[22] Morrison also announced two investigations into the workplace culture at Parliament House.[22] Morrison issued a formal apology on 16 February 2021 and penned a letter to Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, agreeing to develop an independent review into the workplaces of federal parliamentarians and their staff, as well as ordering an internal review into workplace culture and complaints handled within the Liberal Party.[23]

Over the following weeks, three more women alleged they had been sexually harassed or assaulted by the same man, still not publicly named at the time, between 2016 and 2020.[24][25] One woman alleged on 20 February 2021 she was raped in 2020 by the man after the pair had dinner and drinks.[26][27] On 22 February 2021, a second woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by the man in 2016.[27] A third woman also accused the man of unwanted advances and stroking her thigh under the table at a Canberra bar in 2017.[24][27] After the story went public, and even though the accused was not named in publications,[28] the accused was stood aside from his job at a large corporation where he had worked from July 2020.[24] He checked himself into a Sydney hospital and the next day he was in a private rehabilitation clinic.[24]

On 4 March, it was reported that Reynolds had referred to Higgins as a "lying cow" after the initial media reports.[29] The Australian reported Senator Reynolds made the comment in the open part of her office and was heard by several staff members, including public servants on secondment from the Department of Defence.[30] Reynolds did not deny using the slur against Higgins, but said it was not about the rape allegation itself, but about reports of the level of support provided. Higgins threatened legal action against Reynolds.[29] Reynolds and Higgins later reached a settlement in a defamation claim under which Reynolds apologised and agreed to pay damages to Higgins, which Higgins intended to donate to a sexual assault support group in the Canberra area.[31]

Reynolds was pressured to reveal what she had known about the incident.[32] On 16 February, Morrison publicly rebuked Reynolds for not telling him of the incident at the time.[33] Reynolds was due to address the National Press Club on 24 February, but that morning she cancelled the address and was admitted to Canberra Hospital. It was announced that she had taken medical leave related to a pre-existing condition.[34][35] Reynolds continued to be on medical leave until 2 April on the advice of her cardiologist,[36][37] and was not questioned during that time in or outside Parliament on the circumstances or of her knowledge of the alleged rape.

Reynolds's sick leave was initially for two weeks, but on the weekend before she would have returned to work, she was advised by her cardiologist to extend her medical leave to 2 April 2021, a total of six weeks. Labor senator Kristina Keneally called for Reynolds to resign, saying "Is the Minister of defence, Linda Reynolds, trying to pretend she is (on one hand) well enough to continue as Defence Minister, but not well enough on the other to front up and answer to questions in parliament and the (Senate) estimates?" Keneally also called for an independent investigation into allegations against Porter.[38]

On 30 April, Higgins met with Morrison and said she had a "frank and honest" discussion with him. Higgins said the pair also talked about reforming the legislation under which staffers are hired, known as the Members of Parliament (Staff) or MoPS Act.[39]

On 22 May 2021, the ABC's Four Corners reported,[40]

Nikola Anderson, who has worked as a Parliament House security guard for 12 years, told Four Corners how she found Ms Higgins in the office of then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds after the alleged rape. Anderson was asked to do a welfare check on Higgins, and around 4:20 am found Higgins naked on a lounge. Noting Higgins was conscious and did not look to be in distress, the guard shut the door and went back to her duties.

Legal proceedings edit

Further information: Bruce Lehrmann

The man accused of the rape, Bruce Lehrmann, appeared by telephone at the Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory on 5 November 2021 and pleaded not guilty. He was committed for trial in the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory.[41] In April 2022 the defence team for the accused applied to have his trial halted indefinitely as Morrison's apology to Higgins "imputed the accused with guilt of the offence or at least implicitly assumed the truthfulness of the complaint",[42] and could endanger Lehrmann's right to a fair trial.[43][44] The judge dismissed the application, saying that a jury member being aware of pre-trial publicity "is not of itself problematic".[42] Higgins made a complaint against the Australian Federal Police for unlawfully giving Lehrmann's defence team protected evidence, including counselling notes and video recordings.[45] The trial was further delayed in June 2022 following the judge warning that the line between allegation and a finding of guilt had been "obliterated" in an acceptance speech by Lisa Wilkinson at the Logie Awards of 2022 and in commentary following the speech.[46][47]

The trial of Lehrmann began on 4 October 2022.[48] It concluded on 19 October, and the jury retired to consider its verdict.[49][50] On 27 October, the trial was abandoned after it was discovered that a juror had conducted private research and taken their findings into the jury room.[51][52] Higgins subsequently criticised the criminal justice system on live television, saying it "has long failed to deliver outcomes to victims of sexual assault".[53] Lehrmann's lawyer said "We have brought [Higgins'] comments to the attention of the court and the Australian Federal Police ... as to whether the complainant's statements might amount to a contempt of court or offences against the ACT Criminal Code".[53]

 
Australian Capital Territory's Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold, who made the decision to drop the Higgins case

The matter was relisted for 20 February 2023,[51][52] although a senior barrister soon after said it remained to be seen if the case is retried, given the extent of comments by politicians and media personalities now making Lehrmann virtually untriable.[54] In December 2022 the case was dropped by Shane Drumgold, the Director of Public Prosecutions,[55][56][57] stating it was "no longer in the public interest to pursue a prosecution" after receiving evidence "that the ongoing trauma associated with this prosecution presents a significant and unacceptable risk to the life of the complainant".[58][59] On 3 December 2022 it emerged that police assessed the evidence as insufficient to prosecute,[60][61] and "expressed a number of concerns about the case".[60] The accused "consistently maintained his innocence and the case against him was not proven",[58] with the Director of Public Prosecutions declaring that "this brings the prosecution to an end."[58] However, the manner in which the case transpired was criticised.[57][62]

On 4 December 2022, it was reported that both Higgins and Lehrmann are considering compensation claims.[63][64] Higgins reportedly, while in hospital receiving treatment and support since before the retrial was aborted because of concerns over the effects of another trial on Higgins' mental health,[59] intends to sue Reynolds, Cash and the Commonwealth for about A$3 million.[65][66][67] On 13 December, Higgins and the Commonwealth reached agreement and Higgins was awarded an undisclosed sum in compensation.[68] This was later disclosed as being $2.3M, and was negotiated in controversial circumstances with the Federal Attorney General specifically excluding Senators Reynolds and Cash and former staffer Fiona Brown from appearing or providing any evidence for the mediation.[69]

The Guardian reported on 8 December that a letter sent in November by Drumgold to the ACT police chief asked for a public enquiry into the case to look at "both political and police conduct". The letter also alleged that police investigators were 'clearly aligned with the successful defence of this matter".[70][71][72] The Australian Federal Police Association published a statement calling the allegations a "smear" and unproven while also calling for an investigation into the case.[71] The ACT government subsequently announced an independent inquiry into the case. The inquiry is expected to report its findings in the first half of 2023.[73]

In January 2023, Reynolds commenced defamation proceedings against Higgins' partner over two tweets that he made.[74]

On 26 October 2023, it was revealed that, in December 2022, Lehrmann was charged with two counts of rape in an unrelated matter that allegedly occurred in Toowoomba in October 2021. He is awaiting trial on that matter. Lehrmann's identity had been the subject of a suppression order in the interim.[75][76][77]

In 2023, Lehrmann sued Lisa Wilkinson and Network Ten for defamation over the interview with Higgins which aired on The Project in 2021.[78] Lehrmann told the court that Wilkinson destroyed his right to a "fair criminal trial".[79] Lehrmann claimed in court that he felt isolated and ostracised after Higgins' interview on The Project. He said "I became severely isolated," and admitted to a private hospital suffering emotional distress.[80] The defamation case was judged in favour of Network Ten on 15 April 2024, with Justice Michael Lee concluding that there was "substantial truth" to the allegation that Lehrmann raped Higgins.[81]

1988 rape allegation against Christian Porter edit

 
Christian Porter, former Attorney-General of Australia and Member for Pearce
Further information: Jo Dyer § Christian Porter court case

On 26 February 2021, the ABC published details of a letter that had been sent to the Prime Minister and several other members of parliament, including then Senate Opposition Leader Penny Wong and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. It alleged that a 16-year-old girl had been raped in Sydney in 1988 by a man who was now a member of Cabinet. The letter was anonymous, and included a statement by the alleged victim,[82] who had opened a case with New South Wales Police in 2020, but closed it shortly before taking her own life in Adelaide in June 2020.[2]

On 2 March, NSW Police stated they would not reopen the case as they had insufficient evidence to do so.[83]

The identity of the minister was not disclosed, but on 3 March Christian Porter, then Attorney-General, House Leader and Industrial Relations Minister, held a press conference identifying himself as the minister.[84] Porter denied the allegation and said he would not stand down from his positions but would take leave to recover his mental health.[85]

While some legal experts have opposed calls for an inquiry,[86] others urged the Prime Minister to conduct an independent investigation into the allegation,[87] along with Wong, Hanson-Young and the deceased's lawyer. However, Morrison refused to do so, stating it was unnecessary if the police had closed their case.[88] Proponents of an inquiry compare the situation to that which led to an inquiry into the behaviour of former High Court of Australia judge Dyson Heydon in 2020. People who regard an inquiry as unnecessary compare the situation to when then-opposition leader Bill Shorten was accused in 2014 of raping a woman in 1986. No further inquiry was held after Victorian police investigated the allegation and concluded there was "no reasonable prospect of conviction".[89] Morrison continued to block calls for an inquiry, instead moving Porter to the role of Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science in March 2021.[90]

The woman wrote that she had always remembered the alleged event, but had gained "a better understanding" through therapy in September 2019 which had "resurface[d]" her "somatic memories";[91] while friends said that she told them about the incident before this therapy.[92] It later emerged that in 2013 she had spoken to a counsellor about the alleged rape.[93] A former boyfriend of the woman said that he had had "relevant discussions" with the woman in 1989 and with Porter in the 1990s, without specifying what was discussed.[94] On 9 March 2021, the Four Corners episode "Bursting the Canberra Bubble" provided more background on the woman, and the circumstances of the night in 1988 when the alleged rape occurred.[95] It was reported that the woman who made the allegation was prepared to provide a statement. NSW Police were notified and the woman met with detectives "on short notice" in Sydney on 27 February 2020. NSW investigators had applied on 10 March 2020 for travel to South Australia to interview the woman, but the application was vetoed by NSW Police Deputy Commissioner.[96] It was also revealed that the woman, who lived in South Australia, had asked NSW Police in early April 2020 to make a statement via Skype, but was dissuaded from doing so.[97] On 8 April 2021, it was reported that the woman's boyfriend met with detectives twice in March and made a formal statement. Police are not proposing to reopen the investigation.[97]

In March 2021, MinterEllison CEO Annette Kimmitt used a series of emails to staff to criticise her firm's decision to represent Porter. MinterEllison's board was critical of Kimmitt's actions and she later stood down.[98]

On 15 March 2021, Porter launched a defamation claim against the ABC and reporter Louise Milligan, for publishing the allegation. His claim argued that although the original allegation did not name him, he was "readily identifiable" and that the article was intended to harm him.[99] The claim was withdrawn on 31 May 2021, with the ABC paying the costs of mediation and appending an editor's note to the original article stating that "The ABC did not contend that the serious accusations could be substantiated to the applicable legal standard". However, no damages were awarded.[100]

On 10 June 2021 film producer and festival director Jo Dyer, confidante of the alleged victim, was awarded A$550,000 in costs after she brought separate litigation to prevent one of Porter's defamation lawyers, Sue Chrysanthou, from representing him. Dyer alleged that Chrysanthou had conflicting interests in the case, as she had previously had access to confidential information about the victim and Porter involving Dyer relating to a separate incident.[101][102][103]

On 24 June 2021, the original dossier detailing the rape allegation against Porter was made publicly available by the Federal Court of Australia.[104][105]

On 20 October 2021, the Coalition government blocked a Labor bid to have Porter investigated by House privileges committee over whether he had breached parliamentary rules over his financial disclosures, despite Speaker Tony Smith having ruled that there was a prima facie case for further scrutiny.[106] The move from the government attracted significant criticism in the media.[107][108][109][110]

In January 2022, Porter and Chrysanthou were ordered to pay costs of A$430,200 for the case brought by Dyer, although Porter was appealing the decision.[90]

Further allegations edit

Australian Labor Party allegations edit

On 28 February 2021, Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson said a woman had sent her an email alleging she had been raped by a man who is now a Labor federal member of Parliament.[111] A date for the alleged rape was not given, but it was described as "historic". The matter has been referred to Australian Federal Police.[112]

In March 2021, details emerged of a Facebook group where women have shared stories of sexual harassment within the Labor Party, but without sharing the names of the alleged harassers. Deputy leader Richard Marles said he was "appalled".[113]

Party leader Anthony Albanese said he had read the allegations and found them "very disappointing". He encouraged the women to come forward, to make formal complaints and "name names", saying the party needed complaints against specific people before they could take action. Albanese added that the party had recently set up a new code of conduct and process to handle misconduct allegations.[114]

Lewd photos and videos edit

In March 2021, photos and videos were leaked from a group chat of male government staffers, where they had performed sex acts in Parliament House, including masturbating on the desk of female MP Nola Marino.[115] Peta Credlin alleged:[116]

when an MP cleaned out the former staffer's desk, and the computer, that MP uncovered evidence that for many months, that staffer had regularly met with other men during the middle of the day – while the MP was in Question Time – for orgies in political offices.

Alleged comments by Eric Abetz edit

On 24 March 2021, two days after resigning from the Liberal Party, Tasmanian House of Assembly speaker Sue Hickey used parliamentary privilege to claim Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said to her, "As for that Higgins girl, anybody so disgustingly drunk who would sleep with anybody could have slept with one of our spies and put the security of the nation at risk"; and in reference to the Christian Porter allegations, "the woman is dead and the law will protect [Porter]". Abetz categorically denied making the comments and accused Hickey of "trying to destroy the [Liberal] party".[117]

Behaviour of Andrew Laming edit

On 26 March 2021, Morrison demanded that federal Liberal MP Andrew Laming both personally and publicly apologise to two women for trolling them on Facebook, and stop using social media to post trolling comments. It was also alleged that Laming hid in bushes in a public park and took photos of one of the women. She reported the incidents to the police.[118] On 27 March, Laming stood aside from all parliamentary roles after another woman accused him of taking a mobile phone photo of her bottom while her underwear was visible in 2019.[119] Laming said he will take medical leave and use the time to complete counselling services he had previously committed to. Laming announced he would resign from politics at the 2022 federal election,[120] although he later reversed his decision and attempted to renominate for his seat.[121] However, the Liberal National Party of Queensland blocked his nomination, forcing him into retirement.[121] Subsequent defamation proceedings against the ABC journalist Louise Milligan and Nine Entertainment about Andrew Laming resulted in an apology and settlement from Nine and the ABC.[122][123]

Behaviour of Frank Zumbo edit

In June 2021, Frank Zumbo, a staffer of Craig Kelly, was charged with sexual offences, including allegedly sexually touching and indecently assaulting three women in their 20s, and a teenage girl on multiple occasions over a period of about six years.[124] Kelly had earlier maintained, in March 2021, that no-one had any complaints about Zumbo, despite former staffers saying they had raised specific complaints about Zumbo with Kelly in 2013.[125] Zumbo was bailed, remaining on Kelly's team while pleading not guilty and facing 18 charges.[126][127] A fifth alleged victim later came forward.[128] A verdict was expected in late October 2023;[129] in February 2024 Zumbo was convicted of indecently assaulting four women.[130]

Impact edit

2021 edit

The allegations sparked discussions over a toxic workplace culture, systemic misogyny and victim blaming both in political establishments and wider society.[27][131]

The Morrison government was widely criticised for its handling of these scandals, with an Essential poll finding 65% of respondents (including 76% of Labor supporters, 51% of Coalition supporters and 88% of Greens supporters) saying the Government was more interested in protecting itself than women.[132]

As well as from Labor and the Greens, the government faced criticism from within its own party. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who had been made aware of the allegations against Porter in 2019, criticised him for taking too long to come forward.[133] Former Prime Minister John Howard, however, defended Morrison's decision not to open an independent inquiry into Porter's conduct.[134] Former deputy Liberal leader and former Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop also criticised the Morrison government and said that handling of sexual harassment was an issue for all parties in Parliament.[135]

2021 Australian of the Year and sexual assault survivor advocate Grace Tame also criticised Morrison's rhetoric during her National Press Club of Australia address on 3 March 2021, criticising his use of the "as a father" phrase, as well as saying "It shouldn't take having children to have a conscience."[136]

On 5 March 2021, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins said she will lead a review of Parliament House's workplace culture.[137] Jenkins's final report was released on 30 November 2021. It contained 28 recommendations.[138][139]

On 23 March 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison held an extraordinary behind-closed-doors meeting with 400 Coalition staff at which he admitted his government's shortcomings in tackling sexism and bad behaviour, and acknowledged they had put up with "absolute rubbish". Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said he was sorry if anyone had been let down or not felt supported, in a five-minute address during the meeting.[140]

Morrison was criticised for his handling of a press conference on 23 March 2021 addressing the issue of sexual assault within Parliament House, during which he told reporters that an individual at News Corp was under investigation for harassment. He said to News Corp journalists "Right now, you would be aware that in your own organisation that there is a person who has had a complaint made against them of harassment of a woman in a women's toilet."[141][142] After News Corp chairman Michael Miller rejected the claim and made a statement that no employee was under such investigation, Morrison issued an apology and acknowledged that the incident he described did not happen.[141][142]

Cabinet changes were announced on 29 March 2021, with Reynolds and Porter moved but remaining in Cabinet, and the number of women in Cabinet increased from six to seven. Morrison also announced a new cabinet taskforce on women's equality, safety, economic security, health and wellbeing, to be co-chaired by Morrison and the Minister for Women, Marise Payne, and will include all women from the ministry as well as Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham.[143]

The government announced in late March 2021 that it would convene a national summit to set new goals to prevent violence against women, at a date to be determined.[144]

Adelaide radio announcer Jeremy Cordeaux was sacked by FIVEaa in March 2021 following on-air comments about Higgins, in which he described her as "a silly little girl who got drunk".[145]

2022 edit

On 9 February 2022, Higgins and Grace Tame addressed the National Press Club of Australia,[146] which garnered a huge amount of coverage in the press and on social media. Both women advocated strongly for structural change, saying the time for talking had passed. Higgins said that the national plan to reduce violence against women was too vaguely worded, and needed "clearer action and firm targets".[147][148][149][150]

The ACT Government is set to conduct an inquiry into the matter after a letter between the Territory's Prosecutor and Chief of Police stated that they were being targeted by a campaign to not prosecute the Lehrmann case.[151]

2023 edit

In 2023, Bruce Lehrmann filed defamation proceedings against the ABC, Network 10 and News Corp in regards to their coverage of the rape allegations made against him by Brittany Higgins, In May 2023, Lehrmann and News Corp settled out of court.[152] The other cases are set to be heard in the federal court.[153] The new case follows the dismissal of the rape allegations against Lehrmann as the criminal suit fell apart after the trial was abandoned after accusations of juror misconduct.[154] An investigation into the trial has also begun and is being chaired by former Queensland Supreme Court judge, Walter Sofronoff. Already, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the ACT, Shane Drumgold, has been criticized for his handling over the case, including breaching the Evidence Miscellaneous Provisions Act.[155]

In June 2023, The Australian reported that Labor Senator for the ACT Katy Gallagher was aware of Higgins' rape allegations several days before they were publicly reported.[156] Members of the Liberal Party accused Gallagher of misleading parliament when she told the Senate, in June 2021, that "no one had any knowledge" of Higgins' allegations before they were aired publicly. Gallagher denied any wrongdoing, and rejected the implication that she was involved in making Higgins' allegations publicly known.[157]

On 14 June 2023, during a Senate speech by Liberal Senator for Victoria David Van about respect in parliament, independent Senator for Victoria Lidia Thorpe interjected to accuse Van of harassing and sexually assaulting her.[158] The following day, Thorpe alleged that she had been cornered and "inappropriately touched" by a man in a stairwell in Parliament House. On the same day, former Liberal Senator Amanda Stoker claimed that Van squeezed her bottom twice in a parliamentary office in November 2020, although she had regarded the matter as resolved after Van apologised.[159] Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton moved to expel Van from the Liberal Party on the basis of these two allegations, plus one further allegation from a third woman regarding Van's behaviour, the details of which remain unknown.[160] Van denied the allegations against him, and resigned from the Liberal Party on 17 June to sit on the crossbench.[161]

In July, the ACT government released the Sofronoff report early, after it was given to the media. The report heavily criticised Drumgold, accusing him of making baseless allegations, lying to the ACT's chief justice, and losing objectivity and not acting with fairness and detachment.[162] Drumgold subsequently took legal action against the ACT government and the board of inquiry, saying he was denied natural justice, and calling for the findings of the inquiry to be struck out or found to be invalid. A Victorian judge, Stephen Kaye, was appointed to hear the case.[163]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Osborne, Paul (18 February 2021). "Timeline of Higgins incident and response". 7NEWS. from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Stayner, Tom (2 March 2021). "How Australian politics has been shaken to the core in the wake of Brittany Higgins's rape allegation". SBS News. Special Broadcasting Corporation. from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Byrne, Elizabeth; Radford, Antoinette; Frost, Harry (14 October 2022). "Parliamentary security found Brittany Higgins naked 'in foetal position' after alleged rape, court hears". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Maiden, Samantha (15 February 2021). "Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins says she was raped at Parliament House". News.com.au. from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  5. ^ Khalil, Shaimaa; Atkinson, Simon (5 October 2022). "Brittany Higgins felt 'trapped' during alleged rape in Australian parliament - court". BBC News. Canberra: British Broadcasting Corporation. from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022. Ms Higgins said she and Mr Lehrmann had agreed to share a ride home after a night out with colleagues but stopped at Parliament House. Ms Higgins said she was 'the most drunk I have been in my life' and had passed out on a couch. She told police she woke to find Mr Lehrmann having sex with her. Crying, she told him 'stop' and 'no'.
  6. ^ Baird, Julia (19 February 2021). "What the PM should tell colleagues about the Brittany Higgins case: 'It sickens me. If it doesn't sicken you, your time is up'". The Sydney Morning Herald. from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Byrne, Elizabeth; Radford, Antoinette; Frost, Harry (14 October 2022). "Bruce Lehrmann told police he wanted to die after learning he was accused of raping Brittany Higgins". ABC News. from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  8. ^ Gould, Courtney (14 October 2022). "Bruce Lehrmann's 45 minutes inside of Parliament House". The West Australian. from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Timeline of Higgins incident and response". 7News. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  10. ^ Byrne, Elizabeth (15 October 2022). "Second week of Bruce Lehrmann rape trial sees his police interview and parliamentary witnesses testify in ACT Supreme Court". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022. It was the jury's first chance to hear his account. He restated several times that he had not had sexual intercourse with Ms Higgins. [...] He told police he'd lost his job after that night, because his entry to Parliament House had triggered a security investigation. Mr Lehrmann told police that, in the following week, he was asked to go into an office by his then chief of staff Fiona Brown, and not to bring his phone or a notebook. He said he was told it would be best if he left his position, since it was the second security investigation involving him, after an earlier unrelated incident.
  11. ^ Maiden, Samantha (15 October 2022). "'Ashamed': Bruce Lehrmann's apology letter to minister revealed". from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022. It has been brought to my attention that you recently entered Parliament House and my ministerial suite outside of business hours for non-work purposes and were dishonest about the reasons for entering my office. I am advised that when you sought entry to parliament house after hours, you did so by reporting to security that you were required to attend my office for important official business. You have subsequently advised my Chief of Staff, Ms Fiona Brown, that this was not the case and that you entered for non-work related reasons.
  12. ^ a b Foster, Ally (17 October 2022). "Brittany Higgins: Michaelia Cash grilled in Bruce Lehrmann rape trial". news.com.au. from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022. Bruce Lehrmann is accused of sexually assaulting the former Liberal staffer in the former defence minister's office in the early hours of March 23, 2019. [...] Former defence minister Linda Reynolds has told the ACT Supreme Court that she did not know of a sexual assault allegation when she called Brittany Higgins to her office on April 1, 2019, to discuss a late night security incident. [...] Senator Cash was questioned by the prosecution over Ms Higgins' claims that she had revealed her sexual assault allegations to the senator prior to February 5th, 2021. [...] She [Senator Cash] told the court she did not know there was a 'sexual element' to the situation until February 2021.
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January 01, 1970
2021, australian, parliament, house, sexual, misconduct, allegations, this, article, lead, section, short, adequately, summarize, points, please, consider, expanding, lead, provide, accessible, overview, important, aspects, article, april, 2024, february, marc. This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article April 2024 In February and March 2021 a number of allegations involving rape and other sexual misconduct against women involving the Australian Parliament and federal politicians were raised causing controversy especially for the federal Liberal National Morrison government Contents 1 2019 rape in Parliament house 1 1 Background and allegation 1 2 Response to allegation 1 3 Legal proceedings 2 1988 rape allegation against Christian Porter 3 Further allegations 3 1 Australian Labor Party allegations 3 2 Lewd photos and videos 3 3 Alleged comments by Eric Abetz 3 4 Behaviour of Andrew Laming 3 5 Behaviour of Frank Zumbo 4 Impact 4 1 2021 4 2 2022 4 3 2023 5 See also 6 References2019 rape in Parliament house editBackground and allegation edit On 15 February 2021 Liberal Party junior staffer Brittany Higgins alleged to two media outlets news com au and The Project 1 that she was raped in the early hours of 23 March 2019 in then Defence Industry Minister Senator Linda Reynolds office in the ministerial wing of Parliament House by a colleague later named as Bruce Lehrmann after security guards admitted the pair into the building 2 3 Higgins said she became heavily intoxicated at a work party and left with her colleague in a taxi believing they would both be dropped at their respective homes instead she said she was taken to Parliament House and raped while slipping in and out of consciousness 4 5 waking to find her skirt around her waist 6 In contrast Lehrmann told police that he and Higgins returned to Parliament House because he needed to pick up his keys and as Higgins indicated she also needed to return to the office he offered to share his Uber ride 7 Once they arrived in Reynolds suite Lehrmann said he turned left towards his desk while Ms Higgins turned right and went to a different part of the office 7 After working on a briefing for Parliament s question time Lehrmann said he left the office without seeing Higgins again 7 8 Higgins was later found naked 3 9 inebriated and disoriented in the early hours of the morning in the minister s office 1 Three days later on 26 March 2019 Lehrmann was told by Fiona Brown Reynolds chief of staff to collect his belongings from the office and leave because of his late night entry into the office at 1 48 am on the previous Saturday and an earlier unrelated incident of him mishandling a classified document 3 10 with Reynolds consequently terminating Lehrmann s employment formally on 5 April 2019 11 On 1 April 2019 Reynolds called Higgins to her office to discuss Higgins late night entry into the office which Reynolds believed to be a security breach describing the decision of two staff to come into the office at 1 40 am as highly unusual and not appropriate 12 Higgins went to the police after the alleged rape but dropped the complaint in April 2019 fearful the report would result in termination of her employment 13 Eventually Higgins transferred to work for Employment Skills Small and Family Business Minister Michaelia Cash for a year before resigning a month before going public with her allegations 2 nbsp Senator for Western Australia Linda Reynolds who was criticised for her handling of the alleged rape within her office Higgins has accused Reynolds of not supporting her due to the politically sensitive nature of the incident in an election year 4 and claims to have repeatedly told her superiors in the offices of Cash and Linda Reynolds about the alleged rape Reynolds and Reynolds chief of staff Fiona Brown soon after the alleged rape 14 including in a meeting on 1 April 2019 15 16 However Brown disputes Higgins timeline 15 and during the trial Reynolds told the court that she did not know of a sexual assault allegation when she called Brittany to her office the office where the alleged rape occurred 12 4 Controversy also arose following Higgins s public announcement regarding Scott Morrison s awareness of the allegations Morrison the Prime Minister at the time denied any knowledge of the assault until Monday 15 February 2021 17 18 In late February 2021 it emerged that Scott Ryan knew about the security incident on 27 March 2019 and Tony Smith found out about it on 8 April 2019 18 19 Ryan who was Senate President at the time and Smith who was Speaker were jointly responsible for security in Parliament House at the time and only became aware of Higgins and the alleged sexual assault on Friday 12 February 2021 18 19 with Ryan saying he only knew the full details on that Friday 20 Higgins also claims to have told Cash multiple times and recorded a February 2021 conversation with Cash to collect evidence that Cash had known about her alleged rape since 2019 15 However during the trial Michaelia Cash said she knew about a security incident in late 2019 when Higgins began working for her but only became aware of the rape allegation on 5 February 2021 15 Peter Dutton Home Affairs Minister at the time also knew about the allegation on 11 February 2021 but sought no further action nor did he alert the prime minister 20 The prime minister s office seemed to have known details on Friday 12 February 2021 when it first got questions from news com au but for some reason staff did not tell the prime minister until Monday 15 February 2021 20 at minimum two full weekend news cycles later Higgins criticised Morrison s response and cast doubts over his claim of ignorance 21 Response to allegation edit Reynolds publicly apologised to Higgins as did Morrison 22 Morrison also announced two investigations into the workplace culture at Parliament House 22 Morrison issued a formal apology on 16 February 2021 and penned a letter to Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese agreeing to develop an independent review into the workplaces of federal parliamentarians and their staff as well as ordering an internal review into workplace culture and complaints handled within the Liberal Party 23 Over the following weeks three more women alleged they had been sexually harassed or assaulted by the same man still not publicly named at the time between 2016 and 2020 24 25 One woman alleged on 20 February 2021 she was raped in 2020 by the man after the pair had dinner and drinks 26 27 On 22 February 2021 a second woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by the man in 2016 27 A third woman also accused the man of unwanted advances and stroking her thigh under the table at a Canberra bar in 2017 24 27 After the story went public and even though the accused was not named in publications 28 the accused was stood aside from his job at a large corporation where he had worked from July 2020 24 He checked himself into a Sydney hospital and the next day he was in a private rehabilitation clinic 24 On 4 March it was reported that Reynolds had referred to Higgins as a lying cow after the initial media reports 29 The Australian reported Senator Reynolds made the comment in the open part of her office and was heard by several staff members including public servants on secondment from the Department of Defence 30 Reynolds did not deny using the slur against Higgins but said it was not about the rape allegation itself but about reports of the level of support provided Higgins threatened legal action against Reynolds 29 Reynolds and Higgins later reached a settlement in a defamation claim under which Reynolds apologised and agreed to pay damages to Higgins which Higgins intended to donate to a sexual assault support group in the Canberra area 31 Reynolds was pressured to reveal what she had known about the incident 32 On 16 February Morrison publicly rebuked Reynolds for not telling him of the incident at the time 33 Reynolds was due to address the National Press Club on 24 February but that morning she cancelled the address and was admitted to Canberra Hospital It was announced that she had taken medical leave related to a pre existing condition 34 35 Reynolds continued to be on medical leave until 2 April on the advice of her cardiologist 36 37 and was not questioned during that time in or outside Parliament on the circumstances or of her knowledge of the alleged rape Reynolds s sick leave was initially for two weeks but on the weekend before she would have returned to work she was advised by her cardiologist to extend her medical leave to 2 April 2021 a total of six weeks Labor senator Kristina Keneally called for Reynolds to resign saying Is the Minister of defence Linda Reynolds trying to pretend she is on one hand well enough to continue as Defence Minister but not well enough on the other to front up and answer to questions in parliament and the Senate estimates Keneally also called for an independent investigation into allegations against Porter 38 On 30 April Higgins met with Morrison and said she had a frank and honest discussion with him Higgins said the pair also talked about reforming the legislation under which staffers are hired known as the Members of Parliament Staff or MoPS Act 39 On 22 May 2021 the ABC s Four Corners reported 40 Nikola Anderson who has worked as a Parliament House security guard for 12 years told Four Corners how she found Ms Higgins in the office of then defence industry minister Linda Reynolds after the alleged rape Anderson was asked to do a welfare check on Higgins and around 4 20 am found Higgins naked on a lounge Noting Higgins was conscious and did not look to be in distress the guard shut the door and went back to her duties Legal proceedings edit Further information Bruce Lehrmann The man accused of the rape Bruce Lehrmann appeared by telephone at the Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory on 5 November 2021 and pleaded not guilty He was committed for trial in the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory 41 In April 2022 the defence team for the accused applied to have his trial halted indefinitely as Morrison s apology to Higgins imputed the accused with guilt of the offence or at least implicitly assumed the truthfulness of the complaint 42 and could endanger Lehrmann s right to a fair trial 43 44 The judge dismissed the application saying that a jury member being aware of pre trial publicity is not of itself problematic 42 Higgins made a complaint against the Australian Federal Police for unlawfully giving Lehrmann s defence team protected evidence including counselling notes and video recordings 45 The trial was further delayed in June 2022 following the judge warning that the line between allegation and a finding of guilt had been obliterated in an acceptance speech by Lisa Wilkinson at the Logie Awards of 2022 and in commentary following the speech 46 47 The trial of Lehrmann began on 4 October 2022 48 It concluded on 19 October and the jury retired to consider its verdict 49 50 On 27 October the trial was abandoned after it was discovered that a juror had conducted private research and taken their findings into the jury room 51 52 Higgins subsequently criticised the criminal justice system on live television saying it has long failed to deliver outcomes to victims of sexual assault 53 Lehrmann s lawyer said We have brought Higgins comments to the attention of the court and the Australian Federal Police as to whether the complainant s statements might amount to a contempt of court or offences against the ACT Criminal Code 53 nbsp Australian Capital Territory s Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold who made the decision to drop the Higgins case The matter was relisted for 20 February 2023 51 52 although a senior barrister soon after said it remained to be seen if the case is retried given the extent of comments by politicians and media personalities now making Lehrmann virtually untriable 54 In December 2022 the case was dropped by Shane Drumgold the Director of Public Prosecutions 55 56 57 stating it was no longer in the public interest to pursue a prosecution after receiving evidence that the ongoing trauma associated with this prosecution presents a significant and unacceptable risk to the life of the complainant 58 59 On 3 December 2022 it emerged that police assessed the evidence as insufficient to prosecute 60 61 and expressed a number of concerns about the case 60 The accused consistently maintained his innocence and the case against him was not proven 58 with the Director of Public Prosecutions declaring that this brings the prosecution to an end 58 However the manner in which the case transpired was criticised 57 62 On 4 December 2022 it was reported that both Higgins and Lehrmann are considering compensation claims 63 64 Higgins reportedly while in hospital receiving treatment and support since before the retrial was aborted because of concerns over the effects of another trial on Higgins mental health 59 intends to sue Reynolds Cash and the Commonwealth for about A 3 million 65 66 67 On 13 December Higgins and the Commonwealth reached agreement and Higgins was awarded an undisclosed sum in compensation 68 This was later disclosed as being 2 3M and was negotiated in controversial circumstances with the Federal Attorney General specifically excluding Senators Reynolds and Cash and former staffer Fiona Brown from appearing or providing any evidence for the mediation 69 The Guardian reported on 8 December that a letter sent in November by Drumgold to the ACT police chief asked for a public enquiry into the case to look at both political and police conduct The letter also alleged that police investigators were clearly aligned with the successful defence of this matter 70 71 72 The Australian Federal Police Association published a statement calling the allegations a smear and unproven while also calling for an investigation into the case 71 The ACT government subsequently announced an independent inquiry into the case The inquiry is expected to report its findings in the first half of 2023 73 In January 2023 Reynolds commenced defamation proceedings against Higgins partner over two tweets that he made 74 On 26 October 2023 it was revealed that in December 2022 Lehrmann was charged with two counts of rape in an unrelated matter that allegedly occurred in Toowoomba in October 2021 He is awaiting trial on that matter Lehrmann s identity had been the subject of a suppression order in the interim 75 76 77 In 2023 Lehrmann sued Lisa Wilkinson and Network Ten for defamation over the interview with Higgins which aired on The Project in 2021 78 Lehrmann told the court that Wilkinson destroyed his right to a fair criminal trial 79 Lehrmann claimed in court that he felt isolated and ostracised after Higgins interview on The Project He said I became severely isolated and admitted to a private hospital suffering emotional distress 80 The defamation case was judged in favour of Network Ten on 15 April 2024 with Justice Michael Lee concluding that there was substantial truth to the allegation that Lehrmann raped Higgins 81 1988 rape allegation against Christian Porter edit nbsp Christian Porter former Attorney General of Australia and Member for Pearce Further information Jo Dyer Christian Porter court case On 26 February 2021 the ABC published details of a letter that had been sent to the Prime Minister and several other members of parliament including then Senate Opposition Leader Penny Wong and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young It alleged that a 16 year old girl had been raped in Sydney in 1988 by a man who was now a member of Cabinet The letter was anonymous and included a statement by the alleged victim 82 who had opened a case with New South Wales Police in 2020 but closed it shortly before taking her own life in Adelaide in June 2020 2 On 2 March NSW Police stated they would not reopen the case as they had insufficient evidence to do so 83 The identity of the minister was not disclosed but on 3 March Christian Porter then Attorney General House Leader and Industrial Relations Minister held a press conference identifying himself as the minister 84 Porter denied the allegation and said he would not stand down from his positions but would take leave to recover his mental health 85 While some legal experts have opposed calls for an inquiry 86 others urged the Prime Minister to conduct an independent investigation into the allegation 87 along with Wong Hanson Young and the deceased s lawyer However Morrison refused to do so stating it was unnecessary if the police had closed their case 88 Proponents of an inquiry compare the situation to that which led to an inquiry into the behaviour of former High Court of Australia judge Dyson Heydon in 2020 People who regard an inquiry as unnecessary compare the situation to when then opposition leader Bill Shorten was accused in 2014 of raping a woman in 1986 No further inquiry was held after Victorian police investigated the allegation and concluded there was no reasonable prospect of conviction 89 Morrison continued to block calls for an inquiry instead moving Porter to the role of Minister for Industry Innovation and Science in March 2021 90 The woman wrote that she had always remembered the alleged event but had gained a better understanding through therapy in September 2019 which had resurface d her somatic memories 91 while friends said that she told them about the incident before this therapy 92 It later emerged that in 2013 she had spoken to a counsellor about the alleged rape 93 A former boyfriend of the woman said that he had had relevant discussions with the woman in 1989 and with Porter in the 1990s without specifying what was discussed 94 On 9 March 2021 the Four Corners episode Bursting the Canberra Bubble provided more background on the woman and the circumstances of the night in 1988 when the alleged rape occurred 95 It was reported that the woman who made the allegation was prepared to provide a statement NSW Police were notified and the woman met with detectives on short notice in Sydney on 27 February 2020 NSW investigators had applied on 10 March 2020 for travel to South Australia to interview the woman but the application was vetoed by NSW Police Deputy Commissioner 96 It was also revealed that the woman who lived in South Australia had asked NSW Police in early April 2020 to make a statement via Skype but was dissuaded from doing so 97 On 8 April 2021 it was reported that the woman s boyfriend met with detectives twice in March and made a formal statement Police are not proposing to reopen the investigation 97 In March 2021 MinterEllison CEO Annette Kimmitt used a series of emails to staff to criticise her firm s decision to represent Porter MinterEllison s board was critical of Kimmitt s actions and she later stood down 98 On 15 March 2021 Porter launched a defamation claim against the ABC and reporter Louise Milligan for publishing the allegation His claim argued that although the original allegation did not name him he was readily identifiable and that the article was intended to harm him 99 The claim was withdrawn on 31 May 2021 with the ABC paying the costs of mediation and appending an editor s note to the original article stating that The ABC did not contend that the serious accusations could be substantiated to the applicable legal standard However no damages were awarded 100 On 10 June 2021 film producer and festival director Jo Dyer confidante of the alleged victim was awarded A 550 000 in costs after she brought separate litigation to prevent one of Porter s defamation lawyers Sue Chrysanthou from representing him Dyer alleged that Chrysanthou had conflicting interests in the case as she had previously had access to confidential information about the victim and Porter involving Dyer relating to a separate incident 101 102 103 On 24 June 2021 the original dossier detailing the rape allegation against Porter was made publicly available by the Federal Court of Australia 104 105 On 20 October 2021 the Coalition government blocked a Labor bid to have Porter investigated by House privileges committee over whether he had breached parliamentary rules over his financial disclosures despite Speaker Tony Smith having ruled that there was a prima facie case for further scrutiny 106 The move from the government attracted significant criticism in the media 107 108 109 110 In January 2022 Porter and Chrysanthou were ordered to pay costs of A 430 200 for the case brought by Dyer although Porter was appealing the decision 90 Further allegations editAustralian Labor Party allegations edit On 28 February 2021 Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson said a woman had sent her an email alleging she had been raped by a man who is now a Labor federal member of Parliament 111 A date for the alleged rape was not given but it was described as historic The matter has been referred to Australian Federal Police 112 In March 2021 details emerged of a Facebook group where women have shared stories of sexual harassment within the Labor Party but without sharing the names of the alleged harassers Deputy leader Richard Marles said he was appalled 113 Party leader Anthony Albanese said he had read the allegations and found them very disappointing He encouraged the women to come forward to make formal complaints and name names saying the party needed complaints against specific people before they could take action Albanese added that the party had recently set up a new code of conduct and process to handle misconduct allegations 114 Lewd photos and videos edit In March 2021 photos and videos were leaked from a group chat of male government staffers where they had performed sex acts in Parliament House including masturbating on the desk of female MP Nola Marino 115 Peta Credlin alleged 116 when an MP cleaned out the former staffer s desk and the computer that MP uncovered evidence that for many months that staffer had regularly met with other men during the middle of the day while the MP was in Question Time for orgies in political offices Alleged comments by Eric Abetz edit On 24 March 2021 two days after resigning from the Liberal Party Tasmanian House of Assembly speaker Sue Hickey used parliamentary privilege to claim Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said to her As for that Higgins girl anybody so disgustingly drunk who would sleep with anybody could have slept with one of our spies and put the security of the nation at risk and in reference to the Christian Porter allegations the woman is dead and the law will protect Porter Abetz categorically denied making the comments and accused Hickey of trying to destroy the Liberal party 117 Behaviour of Andrew Laming edit On 26 March 2021 Morrison demanded that federal Liberal MP Andrew Laming both personally and publicly apologise to two women for trolling them on Facebook and stop using social media to post trolling comments It was also alleged that Laming hid in bushes in a public park and took photos of one of the women She reported the incidents to the police 118 On 27 March Laming stood aside from all parliamentary roles after another woman accused him of taking a mobile phone photo of her bottom while her underwear was visible in 2019 119 Laming said he will take medical leave and use the time to complete counselling services he had previously committed to Laming announced he would resign from politics at the 2022 federal election 120 although he later reversed his decision and attempted to renominate for his seat 121 However the Liberal National Party of Queensland blocked his nomination forcing him into retirement 121 Subsequent defamation proceedings against the ABC journalist Louise Milligan and Nine Entertainment about Andrew Laming resulted in an apology and settlement from Nine and the ABC 122 123 Behaviour of Frank Zumbo edit In June 2021 Frank Zumbo a staffer of Craig Kelly was charged with sexual offences including allegedly sexually touching and indecently assaulting three women in their 20s and a teenage girl on multiple occasions over a period of about six years 124 Kelly had earlier maintained in March 2021 that no one had any complaints about Zumbo despite former staffers saying they had raised specific complaints about Zumbo with Kelly in 2013 125 Zumbo was bailed remaining on Kelly s team while pleading not guilty and facing 18 charges 126 127 A fifth alleged victim later came forward 128 A verdict was expected in late October 2023 129 in February 2024 Zumbo was convicted of indecently assaulting four women 130 Impact edit2021 edit The allegations sparked discussions over a toxic workplace culture systemic misogyny and victim blaming both in political establishments and wider society 27 131 The Morrison government was widely criticised for its handling of these scandals with an Essential poll finding 65 of respondents including 76 of Labor supporters 51 of Coalition supporters and 88 of Greens supporters saying the Government was more interested in protecting itself than women 132 As well as from Labor and the Greens the government faced criticism from within its own party Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who had been made aware of the allegations against Porter in 2019 criticised him for taking too long to come forward 133 Former Prime Minister John Howard however defended Morrison s decision not to open an independent inquiry into Porter s conduct 134 Former deputy Liberal leader and former Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop also criticised the Morrison government and said that handling of sexual harassment was an issue for all parties in Parliament 135 2021 Australian of the Year and sexual assault survivor advocate Grace Tame also criticised Morrison s rhetoric during her National Press Club of Australia address on 3 March 2021 criticising his use of the as a father phrase as well as saying It shouldn t take having children to have a conscience 136 On 5 March 2021 Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins said she will lead a review of Parliament House s workplace culture 137 Jenkins s final report was released on 30 November 2021 It contained 28 recommendations 138 139 On 23 March 2021 Prime Minister Scott Morrison held an extraordinary behind closed doors meeting with 400 Coalition staff at which he admitted his government s shortcomings in tackling sexism and bad behaviour and acknowledged they had put up with absolute rubbish Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said he was sorry if anyone had been let down or not felt supported in a five minute address during the meeting 140 Morrison was criticised for his handling of a press conference on 23 March 2021 addressing the issue of sexual assault within Parliament House during which he told reporters that an individual at News Corp was under investigation for harassment He said to News Corp journalists Right now you would be aware that in your own organisation that there is a person who has had a complaint made against them of harassment of a woman in a women s toilet 141 142 After News Corp chairman Michael Miller rejected the claim and made a statement that no employee was under such investigation Morrison issued an apology and acknowledged that the incident he described did not happen 141 142 Cabinet changes were announced on 29 March 2021 with Reynolds and Porter moved but remaining in Cabinet and the number of women in Cabinet increased from six to seven Morrison also announced a new cabinet taskforce on women s equality safety economic security health and wellbeing to be co chaired by Morrison and the Minister for Women Marise Payne and will include all women from the ministry as well as Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham 143 The government announced in late March 2021 that it would convene a national summit to set new goals to prevent violence against women at a date to be determined 144 Adelaide radio announcer Jeremy Cordeaux was sacked by FIVEaa in March 2021 following on air comments about Higgins in which he described her as a silly little girl who got drunk 145 2022 edit On 9 February 2022 Higgins and Grace Tame addressed the National Press Club of Australia 146 which garnered a huge amount of coverage in the press and on social media Both women advocated strongly for structural change saying the time for talking had passed Higgins said that the national plan to reduce violence against women was too vaguely worded and needed clearer action and firm targets 147 148 149 150 The ACT Government is set to conduct an inquiry into the matter after a letter between the Territory s Prosecutor and Chief of Police stated that they were being targeted by a campaign to not prosecute the Lehrmann case 151 2023 edit In 2023 Bruce Lehrmann filed defamation proceedings against the ABC Network 10 and News Corp in regards to their coverage of the rape allegations made against him by Brittany Higgins In May 2023 Lehrmann and News Corp settled out of court 152 The other cases are set to be heard in the federal court 153 The new case follows the dismissal of the rape allegations against Lehrmann as the criminal suit fell apart after the trial was abandoned after accusations of juror misconduct 154 An investigation into the trial has also begun and is being chaired by former Queensland Supreme Court judge Walter Sofronoff Already the Director of Public Prosecutions in the ACT Shane Drumgold has been criticized for his handling over the case including breaching the Evidence Miscellaneous Provisions Act 155 In June 2023 The Australian reported that Labor Senator for the ACT Katy Gallagher was aware of Higgins rape allegations several days before they were publicly reported 156 Members of the Liberal Party accused Gallagher of misleading parliament when she told the Senate in June 2021 that no one had any knowledge of Higgins allegations before they were aired publicly Gallagher denied any wrongdoing and rejected the implication that she was involved in making Higgins allegations publicly known 157 On 14 June 2023 during a Senate speech by Liberal Senator for Victoria David Van about respect in parliament independent Senator for Victoria Lidia Thorpe interjected to accuse Van of harassing and sexually assaulting her 158 The following day Thorpe alleged that she had been cornered and inappropriately touched by a man in a stairwell in Parliament House On the same day former Liberal Senator Amanda Stoker claimed that Van squeezed her bottom twice in a parliamentary office in November 2020 although she had regarded the matter as resolved after Van apologised 159 Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton moved to expel Van from the Liberal Party on the basis of these two allegations plus one further allegation from a third woman regarding Van s behaviour the details of which remain unknown 160 Van denied the allegations against him and resigned from the Liberal Party on 17 June to sit on the crossbench 161 In July the ACT government released the Sofronoff report early after it was given to the media The report heavily criticised Drumgold accusing him of making baseless allegations lying to the ACT s chief justice and losing objectivity and not acting with fairness and detachment 162 Drumgold subsequently took legal action against the ACT government and the board of inquiry saying he was denied natural justice and calling for the findings of the inquiry to be struck out or found to be invalid A Victorian judge Stephen Kaye was appointed to hear the case 163 See also edit2021 March 4 Justice Me Too movement Weinstein effect List of political controversies in AustraliaReferences edit a b Osborne Paul 18 February 2021 Timeline of Higgins incident and response 7NEWS Archived from the original on 7 July 2023 Retrieved 7 July 2023 a b c Stayner Tom 2 March 2021 How Australian politics has been shaken to the core in the wake of Brittany Higgins s rape allegation SBS News Special Broadcasting Corporation Archived from the original on 3 March 2021 Retrieved 29 October 2022 a b c Byrne Elizabeth Radford Antoinette Frost Harry 14 October 2022 Parliamentary security found Brittany Higgins naked in foetal position after alleged rape court hears ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation Archived from the original on 17 October 2022 Retrieved 17 October 2022 a b c Maiden Samantha 15 February 2021 Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins says she was raped at Parliament House News com au Archived from the original on 2 March 2021 Retrieved 3 March 2021 Khalil Shaimaa Atkinson Simon 5 October 2022 Brittany Higgins felt trapped during alleged rape in Australian parliament court BBC News Canberra British Broadcasting Corporation Archived from the original on 18 October 2022 Retrieved 29 October 2022 Ms Higgins said she and Mr Lehrmann had agreed to share a ride home after a night out with colleagues but stopped at Parliament House Ms Higgins said she was the most drunk I have been in my life and had passed out on a couch She told police she woke to find Mr Lehrmann having sex with her Crying she told him stop and no Baird Julia 19 February 2021 What the PM should tell colleagues about the Brittany Higgins case It sickens me If it doesn t sicken you your time is up The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 21 October 2022 Retrieved 17 October 2022 a b c Byrne Elizabeth Radford Antoinette Frost Harry 14 October 2022 Bruce Lehrmann told police he wanted to die after learning he was accused of raping Brittany Higgins ABC News Archived from the original on 28 October 2022 Retrieved 28 October 2022 Gould Courtney 14 October 2022 Bruce Lehrmann s 45 minutes inside of Parliament House The West Australian Archived from the original on 30 October 2022 Retrieved 30 October 2022 Timeline of Higgins incident and response 7News 9 April 2024 Retrieved 9 April 2024 Byrne Elizabeth 15 October 2022 Second week of Bruce Lehrmann rape trial sees his police interview and parliamentary witnesses testify in ACT Supreme Court ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation Archived from the original on 29 October 2022 Retrieved 27 October 2022 It was the jury s first chance to hear his account He restated several times that he had not had sexual intercourse with Ms Higgins He told police he d lost his job after that night because his entry to Parliament House had triggered a security investigation Mr Lehrmann told police that in the following week he was asked to go into an office by his then chief of staff Fiona Brown and not to bring his phone or a notebook He said he was told it would be best if he left his position since it was the second security investigation involving him after an earlier unrelated incident Maiden Samantha 15 October 2022 Ashamed Bruce Lehrmann s apology letter to minister revealed Archived from the original on 17 October 2022 Retrieved 29 October 2022 It has been brought to my attention that you recently entered Parliament House and my ministerial suite outside of business hours for non work purposes and were dishonest about the reasons for entering my office I am advised that when you sought entry to parliament house after hours you did so by reporting to security that you were required to attend my office for important official business You have subsequently advised my Chief of Staff Ms Fiona Brown that this was not the case and that you entered for non work related reasons a b Foster Ally 17 October 2022 Brittany Higgins Michaelia Cash grilled in Bruce Lehrmann rape trial news com au Archived from the original on 17 October 2022 Retrieved 25 October 2022 Bruce Lehrmann is accused of sexually assaulting the former Liberal staffer in the former defence minister s office in the early hours of March 23 2019 Former defence minister Linda Reynolds has told the ACT Supreme Court that she did not know of a sexual assault allegation when she called Brittany Higgins to her office on April 1 2019 to discuss a late night security incident Senator Cash was questioned by the prosecution over Ms Higgins claims that she had revealed her sexual assault allegations to the senator prior to February 5th 2021 She Senator Cash told the court she did not know there was a sexual element to the situation until February 2021 Albeck Ripka Livia 24 February 2021 She Made a Soul Destroying Rape Claim Then 3 Others Came Forward The New York Times Archived from the original on 27 February 2021 Retrieved 29 October 2022 Shorten Kristin Varga Remy 6 October 2022 Higgins grilled over Lisa Wilkinson recording The Oz The Australian Archived from the original on 28 November 2023 Retrieved 29 October 2022 Ms Higgins said in a second meeting with Fiona Brown then chief of staff to Senator Reynolds she felt the alleged rape was being viewed as a potential political problem for the party ahead of an election Initially I felt she was very supportive but then it was very different Ms Higgins said about the meeting which she believed was on March 29 a b c d Knaus Christopher 23 October 2022 Who knew what and when Trial hears new details of timeline after Brittany Higgins alleged rape The Guardian Archived from the original on 26 October 2022 Retrieved 26 October 2022 Higgins says she told Reynolds and Reynolds chief of staff Fiona Brown soon after the alleged rape Brown disputes Higgins timeline while Reynolds flatly denied learning of the alleged rape during the meeting Higgins also says she told Cash of the alleged rape multiple times The prosecution alleges Cash s office first learned of the alleged rape following an inquiry from a Canberra Times journalist in October 2019 Cash agreed she had spoken with Higgins but knew nothing about an alleged rape The first time she mentioned a sexual element was I think in the conversation on the 5th of February 2021 she said Gould Courtney 28 October 2022 Strong forces at play after Higgins rape allegation against Bruce Lehrmann news com au Archived from the original on 27 October 2022 Retrieved 29 October 2022 Ms Higgins repeatedly told the court she disclosed her allegation to her managers in the two Liberal ministerial offices she worked in between 2019 and 2021 She said both of those cabinet ministers Senators Cash and Reynolds were also aware Both ministers and chiefs of staff Fiona Brown and Daniel Try dispute Ms Higgins account Scott Jason 1 March 2021 Australian Minister denies rape claim will stay in cabinet Bloomberg Retrieved 1 March 2021 a b c Crowe David 16 February 2021 Dispute erupts over timing of PM office s knowledge of Parliament rape claim The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 22 February 2021 Retrieved 1 March 2021 a b Crowe David 18 February 2021 Security expert checked CCTV after claim of Parliament cover up The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 26 October 2022 Retrieved 27 October 2022 The department told Senator Ryan of the security breach in the building on March 27 and told Mr Smith on April 8 Only on April 18 did the department become aware there might be a sexual assault allegation As recently as Friday 5 February 2021 the presiding officers were advised by the AFP there was no active investigation into the events of 26 27 March 2019 the department said in a statement late on Wednesday On 12 February 2021 following receipt of a media inquiry the presiding officers contacted the AFP and were advised that Ms Higgins had since approached the police and indicated she wished to proceed with a complaint and it was an open investigation a b c Napier Raman Kishor 25 February 2021 Brittany Higgins so many nagging questions left unanswered and likely to remain so Crikey Archived from the original on 25 February 2021 Retrieved 27 October 2022 Murphy Katherine 17 February 2021 Brittany Higgins accuses prime minister of using victim blaming rhetoric after alleged rape The Guardian Archived from the original on 28 February 2021 Retrieved 3 March 2021 a b Australia PM apologises to adviser who alleges she was raped in parliament BBC 16 February 2021 Archived from the original on 2 March 2021 Retrieved 3 March 2021 Pressure mounting on Defence Minister Linda Reynolds over Brittany Higgins rape allegations SBS 18 February 2021 Archived from the original on 28 February 2021 Retrieved 1 March 2021 a b c d Curtis Katina Bonyhady Nick Smith Alexandra 23 February 2021 Not a nice person Man accused of Parliament rape stood down from current job The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 5 March 2022 Retrieved 25 October 2022 Thompson Angus 2 December 2022 Media alleged that Bruce Lehrmann assaulted other women court Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 2 December 2022 Retrieved 2 December 2022 Visontay Elias 20 February 2021 Scott Morrison very upset after reports second Liberal staffer assaulted by man who allegedly raped Brittany Higgins The Guardian Archived from the original on 26 October 2022 Retrieved 26 October 2022 The second woman claims they met up in 2020 for dinner and after the former staffer bought her several drinks the pair went to her home where she was allegedly raped a b c d Mao Frances 2 March 2021 How rape allegations have rocked Australian politics BBC News Archived from the original on 4 March 2021 Retrieved 26 October 2022 Bannister Maeve 2 December 2022 Documents show other Lehrmann allegations The Examiner Archived from the original on 3 December 2022 Retrieved 3 December 2022 a b Murphy Katharine Remeikis Amy 5 March 2021 Linda Reynolds signals she is prepared to apologise to Brittany Higgins for calling her a lying cow The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Archived from the original on 4 March 2021 Retrieved 4 March 2021 Linda Reynolds did not deny reports she called Brittany Higgins a lying cow SBS Your Language Retrieved 4 March 2021 Galloway Anthony Clun Rachel 12 March 2021 Defence Minister unreservedly apologises after legal settlement with Brittany Higgins The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 19 March 2021 Retrieved 19 March 2021 Knaus Christopher Murphy Katharine 18 February 2021 Linda Reynolds refuses to say if payout was withheld from staffer alleged to have raped Brittany Higgins The Guardian Archived from the original on 24 February 2021 Retrieved 24 February 2021 Murphy Katharine 16 February 2021 Scott Morrison publicly rebukes defence minister for not reporting rape allegation to him The Guardian Archived from the original on 1 March 2021 Retrieved 24 February 2021 Worthington Brett 24 February 2021 Defence Minister Linda Reynolds admitted to hospital amid Brittany Higgins rape allegation scandal ABC News Archived from the original on 23 February 2021 Retrieved 24 February 2021 Henderson Anna 24 February 2021 Alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins to make formal statement as Linda Reynolds sent to hospital ABC News Archived from the original on 24 February 2021 Retrieved 24 February 2021 Linda Reynolds extends sick leave to early April sparking criticism from Labor SBS 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Press 5 November 2021 Archived from the original on 3 December 2021 Retrieved 3 December 2021 a b Thompson Angus 26 October 2022 Scott Morrison s apology to Brittany Higgins risked fair trial lawyer The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 28 October 2022 Retrieved 26 October 2022 Australia Parliament rape case abruptly ends in mistrial Deutsche Welle 27 October 2022 Archived from the original on 30 October 2022 Retrieved 30 October 2022 Byrne Elizabeth 29 October 2022 How the immense interest in Brittany Higgins changed the way the media reported Bruce Lehrmann s rape trial ABC News Archived from the original on 30 October 2022 Retrieved 30 October 2022 Tingle Laura 27 April 2022 Brittany Higgins complains AFP unlawfully disclosed evidence in sexual assault case to defence team ABC News Archived from the original on 28 April 2022 Retrieved 29 April 2022 Gould Courtney 21 June 2022 Major decision in Brittany Higgins rape case handed down News com au Archived from the original on 21 June 2022 Retrieved 21 June 2022 R v Lehrmann No 3 2022 ACTSC 145 21 June 2022 Supreme Court ACT Maley Jacqueline 4 October 2022 Judge gets straight to the point in trial of Bruce Lehrmann The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 22 October 2022 Retrieved 5 October 2022 Thompson Angus 19 October 2022 Judge in Lehrmann trial warns jury not to be swayed by popular opinion The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 19 October 2022 Retrieved 19 October 2022 Shorten Kristin Vaga Remi 26 October 2022 Lehrmann jury can t agree on rape verdict The Australian Archived from the original on 26 October 2022 Retrieved 26 October 2022 a b Byrne Elizabeth Mannheim Markus 27 October 2022 Jury discharged in trial of Bruce Lehrmann who was accused of raping Brittany Higgins ABC News Archived from the original on 27 October 2022 Retrieved 27 October 2022 a b Thompson Angus 26 October 2022 Lehrmann s barrister refers Higgins public statement to court police The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 27 October 2022 Retrieved 27 October 2022 a b Thompson Angus 27 October 2022 Lehrmann s barrister refers Higgins public statement to court police The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 27 October 2022 Retrieved 29 October 2022 Percy Tom Leading KC Tom Percy believes Bruce Lehrmann can never be retried 6PR Mornings Interview Interviewed by Liam Bartlett Perth 6PR Archived from the original on 27 October 2022 Retrieved 28 October 2022 Maley Jacqueline 2 December 2022 The Lehrmann trial is over but it will never really be over The Age Archived from the original on 2 December 2022 Retrieved 3 December 2022 New bombshell in rape trial that shook the Liberal Government A Current Affair Nine 2 December 2022 Archived from the original on 3 December 2022 Retrieved 3 December 2022 a b Sarre Rick 2 December 2022 Two clear lessons from the abandoned Bruce Lehrmann trial New Daily Archived from the original on 2 December 2022 Retrieved 3 December 2022 a b c Burnside Niki Byrne Elizabeth 1 December 2022 Rape charge dropped against Bruce Lehrmann who was accused of sexually assaulting Brittany Higgins ABC News Archived from the original on 2 December 2022 Retrieved 2 December 2022 a b Bannister Maeve 2 December 2022 Prosecution drops Bruce Lehrmann rape case The Canberra Times Archived from the original on 7 July 2023 Retrieved 7 July 2023 a b Doherty Ben 22 May 2023 Police did not believe evidence was sufficient to take Bruce Lehrmann to trial inquiry hears The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Archived from the original on 7 July 2023 Retrieved 7 July 2023 Knaus Christopher 3 December 2022 Greatly concerned prosecutor warns of potentially unlawful disclosures about Brittany Higgins The Guardian Archived from the original on 3 December 2022 Retrieved 3 December 2022 Boland Steve 5 December 2022 Don t judge the legal system for sorry saga of the Lehrmann trial WA Today Archived from the original on 5 December 2022 Retrieved 5 December 2022 Maiden Samantha 4 December 2022 Brittany Higgins million dollar compensation claim after collapse of rape trial news com au Archived from the original on 3 December 2022 Retrieved 4 December 2022 Robertson James 4 December 2022 Brittany Higgins looks to fresh legal action after trial dropped New Daily Archived from the original on 4 December 2022 Retrieved 4 December 2022 Hartcher Peter Massola James Clun Rachel Thompson Angus 4 December 2022 Brittany Higgins seeking 3 million in compensation claim Archived from the original on 4 December 2022 Retrieved 4 December 2022 Lawyers for former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins have given notice that they will sue former Liberal ministers Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash as well as the Commonwealth for about 3 million Bannister Maeve 5 December 2022 Brittany Higgins Former Liberal staffer sues Michaelia Cash and Linda Reynolds seeks compensation claim AAP The West Australian Archived from the original on 5 December 2022 Retrieved 5 December 2022 Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold said the sexual assault charges against Mr Lehrmann were being dropped because of the unacceptable impact a second trial would have on Ms Higgins mental health Coorey Phillip Moore Georgie 5 December 2022 Linda Reynolds wants to fight Higgins civil suit Financial Review Archived from the original on 5 December 2022 Retrieved 5 December 2022 Former defence minister Linda Reynolds wants to fight a civil claim lodged against her Caroline Schelle James Massola 13 December 2022 Higgins Commonwealth reach settlement in compensation case The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 13 December 2022 Retrieved 13 December 2022 Brittany Higgins settlement Court releases details of 2 4m compensation payout the Australian Archived from the original on 16 December 2023 Retrieved 6 January 2024 Knaus Christopher 8 December 2022 Prosecutor alleges police aligned with defence in Bruce Lehrmann case and claims inappropriate interference The Guardian Retrieved 9 December 2022 a b James Massola Caroline Schelle 8 December 2022 Police union calls for inquiry into Lehrmann case after prosecutor alleges interference The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 9 December 2022 Retrieved 9 December 2022 Byrne Elizabeth 8 December 2022 Police union hits back at ACT s top prosecutor after he criticised officers actions during Bruce Lehrmann trial ABC News Archived from the original on 9 December 2022 Retrieved 9 December 2022 Karp Paul 20 December 2022 Independent inquiry to be held into handling of Brittany Higgins allegations against Bruce Lehrmann the Guardian Retrieved 20 December 2022 Liberal senator sues Brittany Higgins s partner over defamatory tweets ABC News 27 January 2023 Archived from the original on 27 January 2023 Retrieved 27 January 2023 Bruce Lehrmann named as man accused of rape in Toowoomba ABC News 26 October 2023 Archived from the original on 26 October 2023 Retrieved 26 October 2023 Bruce Lehrmann named as man in Toowoomba ABC News 26 October 2023 Archived from the original on 26 October 2023 Retrieved 16 October 2023 Why we couldn t tell you about Bruce ABC News 26 October 2023 Archived from the original on 27 October 2023 Retrieved 16 October 2023 Bell Patrick 28 November 2023 Bruce Lehrmann tells court he believes Brittany Higgins s fiance sent him threatening email titled Coming for you ABC News Australia Archived from the original on 28 November 2023 Retrieved 28 November 2023 Bruce Lehrmann doubles down on defamation claims Nine News 28 November 2023 Retrieved 28 November 2023 Meade Amanda 22 November 2023 Bruce Lehrmann says he became severely isolated after Brittany Higgins interview as he speaks in court for first time The Guardian Archived from the original on 28 November 2023 Retrieved 28 November 2023 Live Bruce Lehrmann s defamation case against Network Ten fails after judge finds substantial truth to story ABC News 14 April 2024 Retrieved 15 April 2024 Australian Associated Press 26 February 2021 Letter to PM reveals new rape allegation against cabinet minister Yahoo News Archived from the original on 27 February 2021 Retrieved 1 March 2021 Murphy Katherine Remeikis Amy 2 March 2021 Cabinet minister to make statement addressing historical rape allegation against him The Guardian Archived from the original on 3 March 2021 Retrieved 4 March 2021 Christian Porter reveals he is minister at the heart of historical rape allegation as it happened The Guardian 3 March 2021 Archived from the original on 2 March 2021 Retrieved 3 March 2021 Crowe David 3 March 2021 No rule of law left Christian Porter won t stand down after rape claim The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 3 March 2021 Retrieved 3 March 2021 Moses SC Arthur 3 March 2021 Without presumption of innocence we are on shifting sands Australian Financial Review Archived from the original on 11 March 2021 Retrieved 21 March 2021 Legal experts call for independent investigation of historical rape claim against minister The Guardian 28 February 2021 Archived from the original on 2 March 2021 Retrieved 3 March 2021 Hurst Daniel Karp Paul 4 March 2021 Scott Morrison rejects calls for an independent inquiry into the rape allegation against Christian Porter The Guardian Archived from the original on 4 March 2021 Retrieved 4 March 2021 Speers David 4 March 2021 Christian Porter is digging in leaving Scott Morrison in need of a circuit breaker ABC News Archived from the original on 4 March 2021 Retrieved 4 March 2021 a b Hooton Amanda 28 January 2022 Why Jo Dyer the spokesperson of Christian Porter s accuser is standing as an independent The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 11 February 2022 Retrieved 14 February 2022 Crowe David 5 March 2021 Woman drew on counselling before recounting alleged rape The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 5 March 2021 Retrieved 6 March 2021 Maiden Samantha 6 March 2021 Key doubts over Porter accuser s story news com au Archived from the original on 6 March 2021 Retrieved 6 March 2021 Sexual assault counsellor says Christian Porter s accuser told her of alleged rape eight years ago Archived 15 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine Four Corners Australian Broadcasting Corporation 8 March 2021 Maiden Samantha 12 March 2021 Ex boyfriend of Christian Porter s accuser reveals new details about alleged rape discussions news com au Archived from the original on 28 March 2021 Retrieved 12 April 2021 Milligan Louise 9 March 2021 Bursting the Canberra Bubble Four Corners Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC Archived from the original on 8 March 2021 Retrieved 9 March 2021 McPhee Sarah 12 April 2021 NSW Police Deputy Commissioner denied travel request to get statement from Porter s accuser The Age Archived from the original on 11 April 2021 Retrieved 12 April 2021 a b Hunter Fergus 8 April 2021 Police take formal statement from former boyfriend of Porter rape accuser The Age Archived from the original on 12 April 2021 Retrieved 12 April 2021 Bucci Nino 10 March 2021 Boss of law firm MinterEllison reportedly steps down over Christian Porter furore The Guardian Archived from the original on 10 March 2021 Retrieved 10 March 2021 Lowrey Tom Snape Jack 15 March 2021 Attorney General Christian Porter launches defamation action against ABC ABC News Archived from the original on 15 March 2021 Retrieved 16 March 2021 Christian Porter ends defamation action against the ABC ABC News 31 May 2021 Archived from the original on 31 May 2021 Retrieved 31 May 2021 Mitchell Georgina McPhee Sarah Evans Michael 24 June 2021 Christian Porter rape allegation dossier revealed The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 24 June 2021 Retrieved 4 December 2021 McGowan Michael 11 June 2021 Court orders Christian Porter and lawyer Sue Chrysanthou to pay substantial legal costs of Jo Dyer The Guardian Archived from the original on 4 December 2021 Retrieved 4 December 2021 Debelle Penelope 6 August 2021 Writers Week chief to leave after 2022 festival InDaily Archived from the original on 2 December 2021 Retrieved 3 December 2021 Mitchell Georgina McPhee Sarah Evans Michael 24 June 2021 Christian Porter rape allegation documents revealed The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 24 June 2021 Retrieved 25 June 2021 Exhibit 1 Dossier Letter PDF 1 8 MB PDF Federal Court of Australia Archived PDF from the original on 25 June 2021 Retrieved 25 June 2021 Doran Matthew 20 October 2021 Government blocks bid to investigate Christian Porter over legal fee donation ABC News Archived from the original on 21 October 2021 Retrieved 24 October 2021 Bath Gemma 21 October 2021 A disgraceful shameful moment This week we witnessed exactly why we need a Federal ICAC MamaMia Archived from the original on 24 October 2021 Retrieved 24 October 2021 Coalition s protection of Porter defies logic and belief The Canberra Times 22 October 2021 Archived from the original on 24 October 2021 Retrieved 24 October 2021 Maley Jacqueline 23 October 2021 A blind trust Certainly the government is keeping voters blind as to Porter s secret donors The Age Archived from the original on 24 October 2021 Retrieved 24 October 2021 Lillywhite Serena 21 October 2021 The government s move to block investigation of Porter donations is a nail in the coffin of integrity in politics The Guardian Archived from the original on 24 October 2021 Retrieved 24 October 2021 Henderson Sarah SenSHenderson 28 February 2021 My media statement Tweet Retrieved 12 April 2021 via Twitter Crowe David 28 February 2021 Labor MP accused of rape in new email The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 15 March 2021 Retrieved 26 March 2021 Worthington Brett Snape Jack 15 March 2021 Female Labor staffers detail allegations of aggressive behaviour and sexual harassment ABC News Archived from the original on 25 March 2021 Retrieved 25 March 2021 Karp Paul 15 March 2021 Anthony Albanese says Labor women alleging sexual abuse should come forward and name names The Guardian Archived from the original on 21 April 2021 Retrieved 21 April 2021 Grand Chip Le 26 March 2021 How Parliament s sexual revolution lost its way The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 28 March 2021 Retrieved 28 March 2021 Bourke Latika 24 March 2021 Peta Credlin says she sacked staffer at centre of lewd video alleges orgies in Parliament The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 7 July 2023 Retrieved 7 July 2023 Baker Emily 24 March 2021 Tasmanian Premier calls on PM to consider accusation Eric Abetz slut shamed Brittany Higgins ABC News Archived from the original on 24 March 2021 Retrieved 12 April 2021 Bourke Latika 26 March 2021 PM urged to act after Laming apologises for shocking trolling behaviour The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 28 March 2021 Retrieved 27 March 2021 Massola James Fegan Peter 27 March 2021 Liberal Andrew Laming steps aside from parliamentary roles after fresh allegations emerge The Age Archived from the original on 27 March 2021 Retrieved 27 March 2021 Gooley Cameron 29 March 2021 Liberal MP Andrew Laming to quit politics at next election Josh Frydenberg says ABC News Archived from the original on 28 March 2021 Retrieved 12 April 2021 a b Martin Sarah 12 April 2021 Andrew Laming blocked from recontesting next election after backflip on pledge to quit politics Guardian Australia Archived from the original on 13 December 2022 Retrieved 13 December 2022 Meade Amanda 14 September 2022 Nine apologises and agrees to pay damages to Andrew Laming in defamation settlement Australian media the Guardian TheGuardian com Archived from the original on 6 January 2024 Retrieved 6 January 2024 Andrew Laming defamation case costs ABC nearly 200 000 26 October 2021 Archived from the original on 6 January 2024 Retrieved 6 January 2024 Thomas Kerrin 5 June 2021 Craig Kelly s staffer Frank Zumbo charged with sexual offences ABC News Archived from the original on 17 April 2022 Retrieved 17 April 2022 Cohen Hagar Tobin Grace 24 March 2021 MP Craig Kelly accused of ignoring allegations of misconduct by trusted advisor Frank Zumbo ABC News Archived from the original on 17 April 2022 Retrieved 17 April 2022 Megan Gorrey James Massola 5 June 2021 Craig Kelly aide Frank Zumbo bailed while he fights indecent assault charges The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 17 April 2022 Retrieved 17 April 2022 Workman Alice 15 April 2022 Senior staffer accused of historical sex offences still on UAP leader Kelly s team The Australian Archived from the original on 28 November 2023 Retrieved 17 April 2022 Lang Adelaide 14 June 2022 Kelly staffer showed woman his penis cops The West Australian Archived from the original on 14 June 2022 Retrieved 14 June 2022 Davies Anne 19 September 2023 Frank Zumbo tells court he hugged and kissed young female staff to make it a family environment The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Archived from the original on 19 September 2023 Retrieved 19 September 2023 Visontay Elias 2 February 2024 Ex Liberal staffer Frank Zumbo found guilty of indecently assaulting four women The Guardian Archived from the original on 2 February 2024 Retrieved 2 February 2024 Brittany Higgins accuses prime minister of using victim blaming rhetoric after alleged rape The Guardian 17 February 2021 Archived from the original on 28 February 2021 Retrieved 1 March 2021 Hurst Daniel 2 March 2021 Two thirds of Australians think government more interested in protecting itself than women poll The Guardian Archived from the original on 3 March 2021 Retrieved 3 March 2021 Former PM Malcolm Turnbull says Scott Morrison s response to historic rape allegation involving cabinet minister is not good enough News com au 2 March 2021 Archived from the original on 5 March 2021 Retrieved 4 March 2021 Fordham Ben 4 March 2021 John Howard backs Prime Minister s handling of Christian Porter allegation 2GB Archived from the original on 5 March 2021 Retrieved 4 March 2021 Karp Paul 8 March 2021 Julie Bishop takes aim at federal government ministers over handling of rape allegations The Guaridan Archived from the original on 9 March 2021 Retrieved 10 March 2021 Stayner Tom 3 March 2021 Grace Tame tells Scott Morrison having children does not guarantee a conscience SBS Archived from the original on 4 March 2021 Retrieved 3 March 2021 Canales Sarah Basford 5 March 2021 Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins to lead review into Parliament House workplace culture The Canberra Times Archived from the original on 10 April 2021 Retrieved 10 April 2021 Hitch Georgia 30 November 2021 Review finds 1 in 3 staff in federal parliament experience sexual harassment ABC News Archived from the original on 3 December 2021 Retrieved 3 December 2021 Jenkins Kate November 2021 Set the Standard Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces PDF Australian Human Rights Commission Archived PDF from the original on 1 December 2021 Retrieved 3 December 2021 Massola James 28 March 2021 Leaked audio PM admits Coalition failings on sexism in address to staff The Age Archived from the original on 27 March 2021 Retrieved 28 March 2021 a b Crowe David 23 March 2021 Scott Morrison apologises after News Corp denies harassment complaint claim The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 21 April 2022 Retrieved 3 April 2022 a b Maiden Samantha 24 March 2021 Scott Morrison apologises for wrong toilet claim to News Corp journalist news com au Archived from the original on 7 January 2022 Retrieved 3 April 2022 Crowe David 29 March 2021 Marise Payne the prime minister for women as Morrison adds women s taskforce in reshuffle The Age Archived from the original on 31 March 2021 Retrieved 12 April 2021 Crowe David Curtis Katina 27 March 2021 Government to convene summit on violence against women The Age Archived from the original on 29 March 2021 Retrieved 12 April 2021 Maiden Samantha 29 March 2021 Veteran Adelaide radio host Jeremy Cordeaux sacked over Brittany Higgins tirade News com au Archived from the original on 28 March 2021 Retrieved 29 March 2021 Grace Tame amp Brittany Higgins National Press Club of Australia Archived from the original on 10 February 2022 Retrieved 10 February 2022 Murphy Katharine 9 February 2022 Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins nine key moments from the sellout press club event The Guardian Archived from the original on 10 February 2022 Retrieved 10 February 2022 Karvelas Patricia 9 February 2022 Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins are smashing rules and silence and putting Australia s political leaders on notice ABC News Archived from the original on 10 February 2022 Retrieved 10 February 2022 Arrow Michelle 9 February 2022 Making change making history making noise Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame at the National Press Club The Conversation Archived from the original on 9 February 2022 Retrieved 10 February 2022 Australian of the Year Grace Tame s full National Press Club address Video YouTube Canberra ACT ABC News Australia 3 March 2021 Archived from the original on 10 February 2022 Retrieved 10 February 2022 Massola James 12 December 2022 ACT government prepares to launch inquiry into Lehrmann trial The Age Archived from the original on 12 December 2022 Retrieved 12 December 2022 Whitbourn Michaela 30 May 2023 Bruce Lehrmann settles defamation case against News Corp Samantha Maiden The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 30 May 2023 Retrieved 30 May 2023 Whitbourn Michaela 7 February 2023 Bruce Lehrmann files defamation proceedings against Ten News Corp The Age Archived from the original on 7 February 2023 Retrieved 7 February 2023 Atkinson Simon Khalil Shaimaa 26 October 2022 Bruce Lehrmann Australia parliament rape trial abandoned over juror misconduct BBC News Archived from the original on 7 February 2023 Retrieved 7 February 2023 Thompson Angus 9 May 2023 Lehrmann prosecutor admits to inquiry he may have broken law The Age Archived from the original on 9 May 2023 Retrieved 9 May 2023 Angus Thompson James Massola Michaela Whitbourn 9 June 2023 Reynolds claims Gallagher confirmed early knowledge of rape claim The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 18 June 2023 Retrieved 18 June 2023 Karp Paul Butler Josh 13 June 2023 Katy Gallagher denies misleading parliament as she blasts giddy reaction to Brittany Higgins texts The Guardian Archived from the original on 18 June 2023 Retrieved 18 June 2023 Butler Josh Karp Paul 14 June 2023 Lidia Thorpe withdraws accusation made in parliament of sexual assault against senator David Van The Guardian Archived from the original on 18 June 2023 Retrieved 18 June 2023 Dalton Angus Schelle Caroline 15 June 2023 As it happened Dutton dumps David Van from Liberal Party room after Lidia Thorpe makes sexual assault allegation against senator The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 7 July 2023 Retrieved 7 July 2023 Evans Jake 15 June 2023 Peter Dutton says senator David Van should quit parliament after another allegation raised with him ABC News Archived from the original on 18 June 2023 Retrieved 18 June 2023 Pearson Nick 17 June 2023 David Van resigns Liberal Party remains in Senate www 9news com au Archived from the original on 18 June 2023 Retrieved 18 June 2023 Bell Patrick 4 August 2023 ACT government bows to pressure announces it will release report into Bruce Lehrmann s prosecution earlier than planned Australian Broadcasting Corporation Byrne Elizabeth 21 September 2023 Victorian judge to hear former prosecutor Shane Drumgold s legal challenge against ACT government Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2021 Australian Parliament House sexual misconduct allegations amp oldid 1223816793 2019 rape in Parliament house, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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