The intense publicity surrounding Brittany Higgins’s alleged rape in a ministerial office has prompted a surge of women reporting sexual assault to police in the nation’s capital.
Key points:
- Some of the fresh allegations relate to other incidents at Parliament House with different perpetrators
- Two formal complaints have been made to police about the man who allegedly raped Ms Higgins
- Police have yet to speak to the man about the allegations
The ABC can reveal some of the fresh claims relate to alleged incidents at Parliament House, while others reportedly occurred within the public service.
The accusations are directed at different perpetrators, however two formal complaints have now been lodged against the former Liberal staffer alleged to have raped Ms Higgins on the couch of the current Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in March, 2019.
Police are yet to speak to the man, who is a dual national. Government sources say he will not be allowed to leave the country.
The ABC has spoken to a few other women, who alleged they had experienced harassment in political circles but did not wish to pursue their complaints or speak publicly at this time, given the intense media spotlight on the issue.
The pressure-cooker atmosphere of the past fortnight of parliamentary sittings has shaken some long-term advisers and politicians, forcing them to reflect on their own interactions with the alleged rapist and contribution to the workplace culture in Canberra.
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One Coalition figure with a long history working in Parliament House told the ABC, “this place attracts and rewards narcissists, and many narcissists are sociopaths.”
A coalition Senator lamented that the mood in the building was “grim”.
“This fortnight we should have been speaking about how we are working and delivering for the country in the middle of a pandemic. Instead, we’ve been talking about our own work environment, and even more people now probably have lost faith in their elected representatives.”
Australian Federal Police warned Prime Minister Scott Morrison about the need for politicians to report alleged crimes quickly.
In a letter, Commissioner Reece Kershaw declared: “I cannot state strongly enough the importance of timely referrals of allegations of criminal conduct.”
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“Failure to report alleged criminal behaviour in this manner, or choosing to communicate or disseminate allegations via other means, such as through the media or third parties, risks prejudicing any subsequent police investigation,” he said.
“Any delay in reporting criminal conduct can result in the loss of key evidence, continuation of the offending and / or reoffending by the alleged perpetrator.”
Mr Morrison’s staff said the PM had requested the advice from the AFP.
They said they wanted to ensure members and senators had clear guidance about how to act if they received a formal complaint.
At least three ministers and many more staff members in Parliament House were aware of Ms Higgins’s 2019 allegation of rape before she went public, prompting questions about how they responded and what they knew, and when.
The Prime Minister has ordered a series of investigations and reviews into when his office became aware of the allegations, and how the workplace culture at Parliament House can be improved.
Sex Discrimination Commissioner likely to lead inquiry
Behind closed doors this week, the Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has been holding meetings with the Opposition and crossbench about how to improve workplace conditions for staff in Parliament House.
The ABC has been told the Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins is highly likely to lead a formal, independent inquiry into the culture within the building, though a final ministerial decision has not been made.
The terms of reference for the inquiry appear likely to be released next week and the Opposition, as well as key members of the crossbench, want it completed within six months to ensure that it will be publicly released before the next election, even if an early poll is called.
Scott Morrison keeps backing Defence Minister
Meanwhile, the Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, who was Ms Higgins’s boss at the time she was allegedly raped, will remain in a Canberra hospital until at least Friday.
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