Australian Cabinet Minister denies rape allegation

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) –   Australia’s Attorney General Christian Porter has identified himself as the cabinet minister at the centre of a rape accusation – an allegation he strongly denies.

A letter sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week alleged Mr Porter raped a 16-year-old girl in 1988. The woman took her own life last year.

New South Wales Police have closed their investigation into the matter.

Mr Porter, 50, said he retained Mr Morrison’s support as attorney general.

“The things that are being claimed did not 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 last Friday, but not previously revealed his identity.

A former crown prosecutor, Mr Porter entered parliament in 2013 and became attorney general in 2017.

As the chief law officer of the nation, he controls one of the most senior government portfolios and is responsible for legal affairs, national and public security.