Australian cabinet minister denies rape allegation
Australia's Attorney General Christian Porter has determined himself as the cabinet minister at the center of a rape accusation - an allegation he strongly denies.
A letter sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison the other day alleged Mr Porter raped a 16-year-old young lady in 1988. The girl took her unique life last year.
New South Wales Police possess closed their investigation in to the matter.
Mr Porter, 50, said he'd not step down and had Mr Morrison's support.
"The things that happen to be being claimed didn't happen," he told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.
"Nothing in the allegations that have been printed ever happened."
Australian media have widely reported the allegation against a cabinet minister since previous Friday, but not previously revealed his identity.
Mr Porter entered parliament in 2013 and has been Australia's attorney-general since 2017.
As the chief laws officer of the country, he controls just about the most senior authorities portfolios and is in charge of legal affairs, national and people security.
The alleged victim reported her complaint to New South Wales Police last year but did not make a formal statement. The investigation was suspended after she died last June, aged 49.
But last week a letter was sent by friends of the girl to Mr Morrison and opposition lawmakers, raising the allegations again.
Mr Porter said the letter accused him of raping the lady at a higher school debating tournament at Sydney University in 1988.
He has strongly denied any wrongdoing, adding the only information he knew about the allegations was what have been reported found in the media.
The attorney general said he previously known the girl "for the briefest periods, in debating competitions, when we were teenagers, about 33 years ago".
