Federal government frontbencher Simon Birmingham does not believe one of his Cabinet colleagues should step aside, after a letter accused an unnamed government Minister of allegedly raping a woman more than 30 years ago.
The ABC's Four Corners yesterday revealed Australian Federal Police had been notified of an anonymous letter sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison detailing an alleged historical rape by a Cabinet Minister in the federal government. The letter requests urgent action be taken by the Prime Minister to investigate the alleged rape, which occurred in 1988 before the accused man entered politics.
Senator Birmingham was repeatedly asked at a press conference in Adelaide on Saturday whether the accused man should be identified to protect the rest of the government. "Everybody is entitled to natural justice and it's important to back the police to do their job," he said."I don't wish to see anybody lose their rights to natural justice."
BROOME ’75, mouth off about racism in town with 3 RAAF Officers. They order me kidnapped, driven many miles into desert at night – then dumped. Half a day later find Base. Renditioned to NSW. Charged - 'causing a disturbance'. Psychiatrist says 'PTSD/Kidnap'. DVA does a 'Bird'.
Why isn’t the attorney general making any comment? Surely Australia’s First law Officer has some input into the legalities of this issue...
The Police arent our arbiters of Australian Justice- the Courts of Law are!!
Christian Porter in my opinion
Really Simon?
Birmingham is a flog
bullshit
Weak as Piss.
Justice is not freely available to anyone. Clearly being an elite in society is going to give you a huge advantage in navigating the legal system.
Yeah, nah.
Why isn't the attorney general actually talking.. you see this is the problem without name in the cabinet minister everyone's going to make their own assumption.. The poor staff at Parliament won't know whether they're talking to a monster or not 🤔 auspol InsidersABC
Because we are ethically bereft until we see data indicating we should have cared. Until then the rapist is free to execute his cabinet position.
TurnbullMalcolm you were aware a 16 year old child was raped by one of your ex colleagues and you did nothing !! Where is your integrity
Who better to give direction on legal matters than the Attorney General Christian Porter?
Of course he is right! Labor/Greens are pushing a charade similar to the witch hunts against Trump. Pathetic Labor/Greens will not win the next election with this, and they will not score better poll either.
Liberals will lose the next election with this serious breach of justice and blocking the people’s right to know the truth. What kind of liberal democracy protects someone in a position of power for a brutal rape of a 16 year-old The most obvious link is cporterwa
So the Finance Minister (for some reason) has become the Liberal spokesperson on legal matters. The next time I am in court on some criminal charge I must remember to appoint a leading accountant to represent me.
It was reported to police and they used Covid to let it lie.
Like every other lnp scandal that their goons have conveniently buried?
The minister for everything now speaks for the attorney General must be still hungry for the top job
Because that always works so well. Less than 3% of rapists do jail time. We need another solution.
You can do better than this...surely?
Ah Birmo, looking dead behind the eyes there mate! My dog, the willingness they have to save the absolute scum in their ranks.
This politician needs to grow some plums & actually stop protecting ‘the brand!’ Rape is rape & no matter who it is.....stand him down till it is investigated! The fact that the woman has died has absolute no bearing on how you deal with it - stand him down! auspol
I am a bit surprised, that all of a sudden the police are the best to investigate. Recently the answer was more often that an internal investigation is the best way to deal with things like that. Could it be that without a victim the police is forced to suspend investigation?
Has Birmingham got daughters and a wife to teach him empathy? Maybe Jenny could have a word with him between cocktails from the beach cabana. LNPProtectRapists
George Pell was named and stepped aside by the Vatican.. Whats the difference?
I find it amazing that they’re ok with the fact that until he’s named! We could think it’s any of them including Birmingham ! Must be the partyloyalty above dignity & the Law I guess!
It is the Responsibility of every public servant, especially the law makers.
They'll just send it to Dutton's AFP where it will get swept under the rug..
Why Birmo . I would have thought Christian Porter would be the one to comment? Or am I missing something?
Birmo this will not go away no matter how hard you try
Police ? Police havent acted in the last 30 odd years FFS.... SORT IT OUT NOW !
This is the reason the coalition want people to take it to the police not the media first. So they can fob it off as a police mater, active investigation, on water mater. Etc.
I was shocked + disappointed at the cold statement from Birmo - the whole LNP is further tarnished. So we look at Each And Every Man in the LNP Cabinet + keep asking - Which One is This alleged rapist + how many more secrets? sarahinthesen8
Where is christianporter ?
Oh sure, what a fine job the NSW police did supporting this women, surely they could have received an COVID exemption to visit her or least interviewed her via zoom etc.
So how many Coalition members come from South Australia, and how many are senior Cabinet Ministers? My mind turns to only one with a torrid past - Christian Porter. I place my bet on him being the alleged rapist.
BROOME ’75, argue about racism with 3 RAAF Officers. They order my kidnapping, driven miles into desert at night – dumped. Half a day later, I find Broome. Rendered back to NSW. Charged - 'causing a disturbance'. Psychiatrist says 'PTSD/Kidnap'. Vet. Affairs Minister, covers up.
Being the accuser is deceased, there is no criminal remedy - I suspect Mr. Birmingham knows that too.
Wouldn’t it make more sense for the Attorney General, Christian Porter, to comment on legal issues? Unless he is conflicted? CabinetRapist
Yet another reason why we need federalICAC
Why is Birmingham making government announcements on due legal process and not the attorney general? 🧐
Birmingham is a perennial disappointment
Birmingham is a repellent spiv.
Just like the did with Bill Shorten, but the ABC and leftist media will go onto full attack mode because its a Conservative,
Nah, open discussion. His Botox looks it needs a top up, there has been some discernible expressions of late.
So why didn't Morrison report it?
Presumably he means Mr Dutton's Federal Police.
The question is do you stand down someone accused of a crime?It’s a slippery slope. Do you pay them? How long are they stood down for? What level of criminal accusation is a stand down? What if they appeal? There are plenty of cases of innocent people being charged?
BROOME ’75, mouth off about racism in town with 3 RAAF Officers. They order me kidnapped, driven many miles into desert at night – then dumped. Half a day later find Base. Renditioned to NSW. Charged - 'causing a disturbance'. Psychiatrist says 'PTSD/Kidnap'. DVA does a 'Bird'.
BROOME ’75, mouth off about racism in town with 3 RAAF Officers. Duped into a Ute’, driven miles into desert, (at night) – dumped. Half a day to find Base. Renditioned to NSW, charged - 'causing a disturbance'. Psychiatrist says 'PTSD/Kidnap'. Minister/DVA do a 'Bird'.
This government,Scott Morrison is the worst in the world, a gang of rapists lose in Parliament.
who is the accused minister ?
ScottMorrisonMP 'hes been doing, a great job!' couriermail indonesianews1 ASRC1 3AW693 JustinianNews TIME Newsweek smh NTTimesGazette NITV AboriginalTv SatPaper GuardianAus CFMEU canberratimes GetUp AnnastaciaMP GladysBerej ItaButtrose InsidersABC MrKRudd
like Ms B’s should have been left to the police and that evidence on the couch left unsteamed We see you
One way or another the name will come out. There are enough angry female staffers to see to that even if the PM doesn't.
Why is Morrison going through the aged care report at the beach?
No let’s not. Let’s hear the victims voice from beyond the grave I trust it more than Birmingham’s
Shouldn’t the CabinetMinister who’s been accused of this violent sexual assault be stood down pending the criminal investigation?
CrossTheFloor WomenOfLiberalAus VoteOfNoConfidence StandUp AccessoriesOrHeroes SexCrimes Rape CabinetRapist BrittanyHigginsRapist ScottyTheRapistProtector TheyAllKnew PutThemInGaol
Natural justice for their own but not for everyone else? Wish this government would get its priorities straight
No, his gutless leader should address them as a matter of extreme urgency, instead he has yet another contrived photo op at the beach with Jen the empathy coach and leaves work experience kid in charge
Didnt morriscum insist that Christine Holgate stand aside whilst an investigation re the watches was conducted?
This story shows the cabinet is a train wreck.
Shouldn't the Attorney General be delivering legal statements instead? auspol rape
Employees under investigation in all other environments are stood down on full pay until investigations are finalised.
If he was a teacher , police, sportsman or anyone else but a privileged male member of parliament the alleged rapist would have been stood down by now. Each hour toughs it out is needlessly prolonging the hurt and Re traumatiation of every person who has suffered this vile act.
Only a handful of cabinet ministers are from Sydney or NSW?
Of course they should! Why would you want politicians investigating this?
Oh piss off you snobby ....
I wonder what the Attorney-General thinks. He’s strangely silent on this important legal issue.
Ofcouse he does! Swinging dick.
Not what you should say if you are a cabinet minister right now.
I can't believe they still want to protect him!! It's a 16 year old girl and to top it the poor kid took her own life!! These efing heartless monsters!
I bet he does as he sweeps it all under the carpet, a la LNP style
BROOME ’75, mouth off about racism in town with 3 RAAF Officers. Duped into a Ute’, driven miles into desert, (at night) – dumped. Half a day to find Base. Renditioned to NSW, charged - 'causing a disturbance'. Psychiatrist says 'PTSD/Kidnap'. Veteran Affairs Minister covers up.
All Australians are speculating, are you Minister the rapist?
First question to every cabinet minister: 'have you ever raped anyone or been accused of such'
Nonsense. An employer has a duty of care to provide a safe workplace. You don't need police involved to remove a rapist from your workplace.
No No No NO NO, the predator must be suspended pending investigation. Do not push the ball to the police. This is TOTALLY UNAUSTRALIAN, Menzies , Whitlam,Hawke would stir in their graves looking at the state of Australia they left behind. SHAME SHAME SHAME.
Why Birmo? This fool has his own issues with rape culture in his office. Where's the PM or the AG?
That depends on whether Birmo agrees that the Morrison Government should start to be referred to as the Rape Government...
Add Bill Shortens allegations as well. Take down all these politicians
cporterwa
Senator Birmingham is correct but his Government has made an art form spinning stories to influence public perceptions. Unfortunately people will wonder if this allegation has substance or not.
Of course this should be left to police. That is their entire f... job, to investigate potential crime and charge alleged offenders for prosecution by the DPP. It is specifically not anyone else's job, unless you are a vigilante
Whomever it is, they will soon be thrown under the bus. The others won't stand for it. If this were a Labor MP, the Lbs would be screaming his name.
Pedos protect pedos 🐸☕️
How?
This is very close to the bone for Birmingham as time will show.
ElaineM11584892 Until the Minister is named, they are all smeared with the rapist brush. We have a rapist in parliament and Morrison doesn't care
BROOME ’75, mouth off about racism there, with 3 RAAF Officers. Duped into a Ute’. Driven many miles into desert, (night) – dumped. Nearly half a day find Base. Renditioned to NSW, charged - 'causing a disturbance'. Psychiatrist says 'PTSD/Kidnap'. Vet Affairs Minister covers up.
Excuse us Birmingham, if we have no faith in police or the justice system when it comes to sexual assaults.
Whoever did it was in 'Sydney in 1988'.
Birmingham os trying to sound constructive when of course he’s being the opposite. But if it is left to the police it’ll be out of the reach of another stupid government inquiry.
Has someone with a more legal background been quarantined away from this particular complaint and is not appropriate for them to comment? Yes, it does seem a strange choice of spokesperson
Birmo rostered weekend office by with a series of zero value takes. What a waste of oxygen!
smithmeyerjen The allegations went to the police last year. Senators Wong and Hanson-Young informed NSW and SA police. Why don't you mention that to Birmingham?
Will ScottyFromMarketing still think his daughters are children when they reach 16? Was the anal rape of a 16 year old child considered paedophilia in 1988? Birmingham spoke out because he was 14 at the time of the rape and probably not capable of doing it
ElaineM11584892 Exactly but that doesn't mean the minister concerned should not be named & stood down until police finish there investigation ?
Why isn't this statement from our AG?
Says the government who used allegations against Shorten to undermine his PM runs
And what does the Attorney General Christian Porter have to say?
Let’s make it easy. Each cabinet minister states on the record it was not me.
Who is the culprit minister.
MSMWatchdog2013 The silent rules in politics: 1. Perpetrators, harassers and rapists get promoted or receive glowing references including anonymity 2. Victims get demoted, transferred, outed and ultimately ignored.
MSMWatchdog2013 Hypocrite
Why is he commentating? It could be him for all we know.
The LNP ought to take a good, long, hard look at themselves and think about what they have done. More importantly ALL Australians ought to take a good, long hard look at everything the LNP has done and send them to the kerb where they belong next election! 🇭🇲
Well he would say that..
MSMWatchdog2013 “I think we have to respect that we have justice systems in Australia, that everyone is entitled to natural justice” says Birmo Unless you’re unemployed, a refugee, or a staffer reporting an allegation of sexual assault at a politically inconvenient time. AusPol
I'm still trying to figure out what 'natural justice' means.
Then why did they not get a statement from the alleged victim? Feb to June 2020 nothing! Covid was not a major issue in Feb. No wonder the victim was in despair because there hadn’t been any action! coverup auspol
So the NRL has a strong policy on this than the national government which makes our laws.......ok....🤔
They are all very comfortable with rape
What has the accused rapist got on you Birmingham?
Liberal Party MP's clamber over each other in their rush to condemn Labor MP's who have been accused of anything whether guilty or innocent. They have a rehearsed pile on co-ordinated with the media to demand their dismissal. I expected this pathetic response from Birmingham.
Does Birmingham think Jen would let her daughters work in PH with an accused rapist in the building after all we have heard in the last two weeks?
Natural justice, i.e., the duty to be fair, just like they allowed to the victims of Robodebt, I suppose. The LNP makes me sick.
And the excuse for Boothby is bs.
If it was a Labor member you would demand they stood down pending investigation and name them.
The police are unable to investigate because there is no longer a victim.
The Coroner will want to know.
shamelessly double standard.
I never knew ABC stood for Australian Broadcasting Court.
Birmo has shown very poor judgement in coming out with this BS
What a difference 2 years makes. After being accused of historical sexual abuse,Tasmanian Senior Liberal Rene Hidding stood down immediately to fight the allegations and not be a distraction to the Government's agenda.
Yeah, nah. Old bloody trick that one. Why was Birmo wheeled out anyway ffs?
Of course he does. If it was a Labor MP he'd be screaming for him to be named. auspol MSM
futile; his name will come out, especially if govt tries to stonewall ...
The mob have name every male conservative politician that are cabinet members. Do everyone male members of cabinet should stand down? Birmo is right it a police matter
I'm not sure how Birmingham can turn an allegation of rape against a federal minister into point scoring against lefties and the Greens. Would an alleged murderer be allowed to continue in their position as Minister? Thought not.
Yes
No Birmo it should be firstly up to the Cabinet to upheld a higher standard by sacking the minister in suspicion until the matter is resolved. Any failure to take such actions only reinforces LNP's bias, disrespect of the victim, of all tax payers & all women auspol Australia
Okies ....1 2 3 go...you're on the list
The police won’t prosecute because the victim took their life, so leaving it to the police means nothing happens. So he’s happy that a rapist might get away with rape.
So now it’s the police not the PMO and an internal reporting and investigation
Forget about it until if & when anybody is charged & convicted of a crime. All the confected hysteria being generated is politically driven by ALP hypocrites that never thought twice about rooting for Bill Shorten for PM with a rape allegation committed on a 16 year old.
Why in the 21st Century could not have South Australian Police help the NSW police to take this person's statemen, even if by video? It seems to me people were hoping they couldn't take her statement. Is this so called perpetrator that high in the government.
It seems Mr Birmingham has no issue with an alleged rapist being part of this Government? Is he happy to sit next to this alleged rapist?
Pass the buck.
This government just stinks worse each day it goes on. What a complete failure of our system.
How are you going to cover up this one..what has become of the other alleged rapist, disappeared off the face of the planet. Very strange...🤔
Nothing to see here, once again, move on. Are the LNP accountable for anything?
What you need is unions to help bully the accuser to get the person off. Like Labor and AlboMP had when they worked together to shut down all investigation into billshortenmp
Birmo, shittest Trade Minister in history, preaches ‘due process.’ There are moral & legal implications & leadership does matter. If a crime (violent rape resulting in suicide) were revealed in any workplace there would be consequences. LiberalAus shame. auspol
How can we trust the AFP when nothing came out of the investigation into Angus Taylor and if I recall at the time Angus Taylor wasn’t interviewed by the AFP . My opinion the AFP won’t bite the hand who feeds them.
So dispiriting that it could be any of the male cabinet members - there's not one about whom you would say 'well, not HIM'
This bloke is like a broken record!
Normal business, Human Relations takes it down as an incident, treats it as an alert and ensures his current contacts are protected and no hidden issues. This means talking to current work contacts and recent departures urgently. But this is Parliament.
Yes, let's give a rest to this trial by media circus
Please pass this on to the minister!
I do agree with Mr Birmingham that it should be left to the appropriate authorities however like sarahinthesen8 said today mr ScottMorrisonMP silence is deafening but it’s what Old school politicians when it comes to sexual abuse they just want to throw this on the carpet
Well it obviously couldn't be left to you lot anyway. You would do nothing AGAIN other than exercise another pathetic attempt playing the 'boys club' cover-up!
No doubt he fully supported the Dragons NRL player being stood down whilst his matter is dealt with?
What, the afp..sweep it under the carpet. Nothing to see here...move along..
So the LNP are happy to have an alleged rapist in its ranks
Lol - as if the political grubs from the left are going to let that happen. Strange how they are so dismissive of the Bill Shorten rape allegation. Anyone would think they don't actually give a shit about rape victims - just using them to score political points 😏
birmo is simply defending his party members- not the people, not the country, not the parliament and not the institution of government. auspol
As long as each male cabinet minister is prepared to be a suspect in the eyes of the public, then. If we don't know who, we have to suspect all of them.
Apologist!
One of the three excluded from suspicion by age...but still valiantly fighting to protect an abusive colleague!
Yes about time right yes
Maybe the Press Gallery in Canberra should ask Birmingham if the woman ever approached him with her allegations. Clearly an approach was made to Wong & SH.
he has nothing to say in a shitstorm
Wouldn’t want to do the right thing, have someone stand down, lose a majority and force an election centered on multiple rape scandals would we?
Birmingham is saying what was the responsibility of the Attorney -General to say. Why is the AG silent?
He would say that.
Are we asking Birmingham? Do we give two fvcks what anyone in the LibsProtectRapistsParty says? Is he just saying this shit cos he has his own skeletons Every single one of them could be guilty of something right now. CabinetMinister
Bullshit....the alleged rapist must stand down immediately and face the music...legal music...too many innocent peoples names will be smeared...anyway birmingham is not the partyleader...where is morrison?
TheSilenceIsDeafening
But as of now, he and his colleagues presumably know who has been named, and are happy to work beside an alleged rapist. What the hell does that say about them? Morally bankrupt LNPProtectRapists
Shouldn’t we know if our taxes are funding an alleged rapist?
Birmingham is a typical private schoolboy graduate so far up his own clacker he is a doughnut! I bet he spends a lot of time in front of the mirror admiring himself along with Scotty the the Snake Oil Salesman!
One of the things that you want to do next, is see which of the current cabinet ministers were in Sydney, on that day, in 1988.
Birmingham sent out to cover up. ScottyTheRapistProtector ScottyFromCoverUps BirminghamKnew
Someone finally read the memo!
Allegations =\\= guilt. it’s a slippery slope if we start assuming people are guilty, and punishing them, before anything has been proven.
THIS: will it be appropriate & ethical for the alleged perpetrator to still be in their particular job Ministry? If stood down there could still be a presumption of innocence
We have a right to know who raped this woman, who has suffered her entire life until her unhappy death just twelve months ago.
These matter have to be reffered to the police and investigate ... if there is a case the person responsible for the alleged crime should be charged.
And that’s worked before? How?
No this is bigger than that
It’s a rape investigations, charge whoever the evidence says should be charged and prosecute those charges..the accused person is,apparently, in a position of trust and power.He has an obligation to publicly address the allegations,openly, with transparency and honestly auspol
Of course he does
Exactly...
Sorry. The person is in our government.. in this case the electorate..us..have a right to know
Does he now
Unlike the other rape allegation
Soul-less........no feelings in those eyes
As if that is somehow a bad suggestion, let the police deal with it. Strangely because that is how the justice system works in our country.
Have to agree really. Based on the little I know. Shame but that is how our justice system works. Unless government have done something to cover it up or frustrate the investigation. Though if the male named was half decent he would identify himself and offer some explanation.
They're supposed to work for us. Do better. Can we have a federalICAC now?
Birmo your miserable Govt won't be able to keep hiding behind police investigations forever. It's in the public interest to know which cabinet minister is accused of violently raping a 16 year old girl. It will all come out eventually. The victims friends will see to that.
Ok this is going to get hatred but it a true fact. These matters are all alleged and not known to be true. We cant just force people to stand down or fired over allegations. If we just start in forcing people to be removed over them then where do you stop?
So very convenient 🙄
We will decide that , not Birmo - these pricks have dictated to Australian's far too much. The AusFedPolice and nswpolice have run a protection racket for LiberalAus
Aren’t you turning into a true little “ yes man “
Oh FO. If it was a Labor minister you lot and the MSM would be calling for their head and Albo's. Absolute hypocrites the entire party. You tried to cover up a rape and now there is a rapist in Cabinet.
The AFP had them in February 2020, the complainant suicided on 24 June 2020. Did the AFP interview the Minister, or inform Morrison?
Cops cant as victim is dead. Sounds guilty to me
It used to be that an accused MP would stand down pending such an investigation. They might also consider consulting an attorney, generally speaking.
Who's the culprit, this guy himself?
Minister must be forced aside or every cabinet minister carries the stench of guilt . Most, will be innocent. Until all is revealed all are seen as guilty or being complicit in cover ups. Morrison must dissolve parliament & call an election now. auspol
Of course he would say that !!
He would say that he was 14 at the time
The Federal Government has to stop the protection racket Morrison must be transparent with the public
Its in the public interest to know who the minister, an alleged rapist is! Not only that he should be stood down immediately.
Doesn't give me any confidence at the polling both, knowing my vote might be going to a rapist.
What really bother's me about this is How can The NSW Police use the COVID as an Excuse Not to Visit The Lady in SA so she could make a Formal Complaint ( Sadly for the Police they Shouldn't have assumed She Didn't have a back up plan!) WHICH POLICE!?
The victim took her own life. She paid the ultimate price. The individual accused should step down. Outrageous
Why was the office steam cleaned?
Well if Simon says...
Coward go on hide in corner block your ears pathitic gutless weak coward
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