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Updated March 5th, 2021 at 20:38 IST

'Australian ministers attended event' linked to Porter's alleged rape case: Report

Two Australian ministers were reportedly present at the debating tournament, at which Attorney-General Christian Porter allegedly sexually assaulted a woman.

Reported by: Vishal Tiwari
Australia
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Two ministers in the current Scott Morrison government were reportedly present at the debating tournament, at which Attorney-General Christian Porter allegedly sexually assaulted a woman. According to The Guardian, Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher attended the university debating competition in January 1988, where Porter is said to have sexually assaulted a woman, who killed herself last year after complaining about the alleged "rape" to police in 2019. 

Read: Australia PM Backs Attorney-general Accused Of Rape

Porter denies raping the woman

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended his Attorney-General, dismissing calls for an independent inquiry into the matter as he cited NSW police's investigation, who closed the case due to lack of "admissible evidence". On Wednesday, Porter denied sexual assault allegations but did not rule out meeting the woman and going out with her. Porter said that it is possible they might have gone out together for a "dance". 

Read: UK’s Sonnenkrieg Division To Be 1st Right-wing Terrorist Group Listed In Australia: Report

Meanwhile, Hunt's spokesperson said the minister did attend the event in 1988 but denied any meeting between him and the woman or him and Porter. The spokesperson added that Hunt went as a member of the University of Melbourne team and that he doesn't remember meeting Porter before he entered the parliament. According to The Guardian, Fletcher attended the event as an adjudicator as he was one of the finalists of the 1986 tournament. Hunt was reportedly ranked 77th out of the 180 participants in 1988.

Read: Australia PM Dismisses Calls For Inquiry Into Rape Allegation Against Christian Porter

Numerous people, including the family members of the woman, are demanding a probe into the matter. The dead woman's lawyer called on the Prime Minister to launch an investigation and not solely rely on Porter's denial. "This is not mob process, this is not the tribe-has-spoken process, that's not how we run the rule of law in Australia," PM Morrison said Wednesday.

Read: Australia Slams Italy For Blocking COVID-19 Vaccine Shipment Using New EU Law

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Published March 5th, 2021 at 20:38 IST

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