This year, when Brittany Higgins revealed her truth about allegedly being raped inside Parliament House, it prompted a national reckoning to confront the gendered violence crisis in Australia. A historic inquiry detailed the workplace sexual harassment in Australian workplaces, and now is the hard part for our political leaders to actually make change.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison persists in his staunch support for Christian Porter who continues in a Cabinet Ministry role, despite a historic rape allegation against him.

Now, a shocking revelation by Porter finds that part of his defamation legal fees to sue ABC were paid by donations from a source he claims not to know. The level of immunity these men in power have is staggering - that they think they can get away with accepting $1 million without knowing the source.

As former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull has noted, “it’s a shocking affront to transparency.” Christian Porter has shown, through one controversy after another, that he is unfit to be a Minister of the Crown.

It is not okay for an Australian cabinet minister to undermine ministerial standards in this way. The Prime Minister’s “blind trust” on him is unacceptable.

We are calling for Christian Porter to be removed from his ministerial position immediately.

 

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Original version

Within several months, we have had multiple male government ministers accused of chronic misogynistic statements and behaviour. We have seen the exploitation of female staffers, and we have heard about multiple alleged rapes. 

Most recently, we have become aware of the tragic case of a woman who recently died from suicide after suffering for years with the trauma of a violent rape. She alleged that the perpetrator is a cabinet minister. It has been revealed that the minister she accused is Attorney-General Christian Porter.  He denies the accusation.

The response of the PM and his government?

- Denial, cover ups, deflection and victim-blaming (Peter Dutton called the Higgins case a "he said, she said" situation).

- Scott Morrison said he questioned Christian Porter and received a vehement denial of the claims. He does not believe the Attorney-General needs to step down.

We, the people of Australia do not believe that the Federal Parliament should be able to behave as a lawless bubble where women can be used and abused without consequences.

We call for an independent, far-reaching inquiry into the culture in parliament and the public service which allows men to exploit women. These women risk their careers and health if they call for justice.  UPDATE - This will happen and be led by sex discrimination commissioner, Kate Jenkins.

We call for the immediate suspension of the minister in question, pending an independent inquiry into the suitability of this person as a member of the government.

We call on PM Scott Morrison to stop using language which trivialises rape and excuses the perpetrators. We ask that he commit to believing women.

We ask that the government recognises the pain that misogyny and sexual assault causes, and respects and believes the victims

Dr Kate Ahmad and Dr Anita Hutchison

Lifeline: 13 11 14.

1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au