Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says a cabinet minister named in an anonymous letter alleging the rape of a woman in the 1980s "absolutely rejects" the allegation.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the matter has been referred to police. Photo: AFP
The letter, sent to several members of his parliament including Morrison, alleges the woman was raped in 1988 by a man who is now a minister in the federal government.
Morrison said he became aware of the allegation on Wednesday evening last week and spoke to both the minister and the Australian Federal Police Commissioner about it that night.
"The police have had this matter referred to them," he said.
"The individual involved here has vigorously rejected these allegations.
"And so it's a matter for the police, and in my discussions with the Commissioner there were nothing immediate that he considered that was necessary for me to take any action on."
Morrison dismissed calls for the minister to be stood aside while the allegation was investigated.
"I think it's appropriate for the matter to be dealt with [by] the federal police and the federal police to advise me of the nature of this, which they're doing," he said.
"And at this stage, the Commissioner has raised no issue with me - and the Department [of Prime Minister and Cabinet] secretary was present for that call as well - that would cause me to take action under the ministerial code. That's where we are right now."
New South Wales Police suspended their investigation after the woman took her own life last year.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the allegations had been referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
"Here in Australia we adhere to the rule of law," he said.
"And fundamental to the rule of law is the presumption of innocence. Every Australian deserves that right.
"So yes, there have been very serious matters raised across the parliament in recent weeks, this has been the subject of much commentary and attention. But the focus has to be now on process."
Frydenberg pointed to a letter from the AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw to Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week, warning that any allegation of sexual assault should be referred to police quickly.
"We've seen a letter from the head of the Australian Federal Police and that letter to the Prime Minister and subsequently made available to the Parliament again re-emphasises the need for these matters to be in the hands of authorities," Frydenberg said.
"They're the best people to be dealing with such matters."
Lawyer Michael Bradley, who was acting for the woman who made the allegation before she died, called for an independent inquiry into the matter.
"It's a very unusual and unfortunate situation where this matter can't and won't be resolved through the ordinary criminal justice process," Bradley said.
"But from a political and ethical perspective, the allegation is there and can't be ignored so it has to be resolved in some form."
Bradley said if the minister did not step aside while an investigation was carried out, the prime minister should force him to.
"My view is that his position is pretty clearly untenable and that he should step aside or be stood aside until this matter can be addressed and resolved," he said.
"I don't personally see how he could continue to serve as a cabinet minister with this hanging over his head."
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who was one of several politicians who received the anonymous letter, agreed the minister should step aside.
"I think the right thing to do here right now would be for the minister to stand aside while an independent inquiry was conducted so that both the victim can have her voice heard and that the man accused can have an opportunity to clear his name if he is innocent," she said.
- ABC