The night porter and the rape allegations

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The horrific rape allegations against Christian Porter turned out to be one of the biggest stories of 2021. This March story by Tess Lawrence has been read by tens of thousands.

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Attorney General Christian Porter deserves the backlash received from the public and the media for his denial of the rape allegations. Contribute to the reports of editor-in-chief Tess Lawrence.

* DISCLAIMER CONTENT: This article deals with rape

MONDAY, Justinian’s founding editor-in-chief Richard Ackland did what the rest of us in the media didn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t do.

He pulled Attorney General “The Christian” Porter from the open and overloaded secrecy drawer of Morrison’s cabinet, naming him as a man accused of alleged anal rape of a 16-year-old girl in 1988 as the two teens entered a contest. of debates. in New South Wales.

For months, there had been strong rumors in the media, legal and political circles that Porter was an alleged rapist. It is difficult to understand how and why this powerful triumvirate has remained silent and therefore complies with upholding the code of omerta.

The fear of legal action is a great deterrent.

But invariably there is a way to break a story in the public interest. The truth is the muscle that must flex under obesity for mere lustful interest. The ABC’s Four Corners failed to document the case and circumstances of the anonymous alleged victim, but did not name the alleged perpetrator. Ackland did.

In his current affairs column, “500 words or so,” Ackland’s dazzling and legally deadly criticism of the Porter allegation laid bare the sordid affair of political obscuration stifling all rape reporting. presumed.

‘500 words’:

“By the time 4 Corners was preparing Inside the Canberra Bubble, he already had information that Porter had been the subject of a rape allegation 32 years earlier. At the time, Porter was 17, turned 18 on July 11, and the Complainant was 16.

The ABC lawyers got down to it and said “don’t publish”. The complainant had committed suicide four months before the broadcast, so the allegation could not be tested. ‘

His appointment of Christian Porter has carved a cyst for decades.

Porter came to Canberra as a ‘big rocking cock’

“500 words”:

Legal presumptions aside, there were plenty of clues that Porter came to Canberra as a ‘big rocking cock’.

The public kissing with a young staff member in a moonlit bar was one thing – only for the execrable Alan Tudge (Robodette, contempt of court and criminal offenses as acting immigration minister) demands that the photographic evidence be removed by a reporter on site.

Initially, Porter responded to the story by saying he was looking at his “legal options.” He categorically denied that this ever happened, incorrectly claiming that ABC 4 Corners reporter Louise Milligan had never contacted him.

Melbourne attorney Kathleen Foley, who had known Porter in Perth since she was 16, had these revealing insights:

I am here because for a long time Christian has enjoyed the silence around his conduct and behavior and the silence has meant that his behavior has been tolerated and after a while the silence means that he is tolerated and that it is ‘is considered acceptable. And I’m here because I don’t think his behavior should be tolerated, and it’s not acceptable.

All this time I have known that he was someone who was, in my opinion and from what I saw, deeply sexist and in fact misogynistic in his treatment of women, in the way he was talking about women.

Christian’s personality, especially at UWA, was to sideline women in any type of forum they wanted to be involved in. They were treated like a joke, they were the object of ridicule. The only point for women, as far as I know from the way Christian treated women, was that he flirt with them, or made fun of women, especially for their looks.

Ackland points out that the above is:

“… interesting background, none of which establishes that Porter raped a young woman anal in 1988. What will emerge before too long is Porter’s widespread denial that he did such a thing. Now is the time to move on.

Indeed, two days later Wednesday, Ackland’s prophecy came true when Porter held what turned out to be a press conference and statement where he repeated a mantra denying anything s’ had happened – nothing to see here. It was a lame performance, riddled with inconsistencies and subsequent confusion regarding possible subsequent encounters with the alleged victim.

As for the caliber of his opening print media statement, it was a fiasco. Time and time again, Porter has proven his legal authoritarianism in his role as Attorney General, trampling on us ordinary people and our freedoms, and appearing to rejoice in it.

Yes, he sometimes cried about his situation. But unless I missed it, I heard no sympathy for his alleged victim, who allegedly committed suicide last year. I keep my tears to her. And for the excruciating pain of its reality.

If Porter had been a footballer or rugger player his bullshit would have been publicly well pressed in the media melee and by now such an allegation would likely have made headlines and he would have been invited to participate in another guy. reality show.

So why does the press grant special privileges to politicians?

When it comes to allegations of rape and sexual harassment, why is the word of a politician considered greater than that of a woman, dead or alive? Why does the word of the accused seemingly have a hold over the word of the accuser outside a court?

What about a penis that reigns supreme over a vagina?

Regardless of Porter’s arrogant claims that after returning from sick leave he will continue in the role of GA, he will ultimately be forced to step down. His position as Chief Commonwealth Lawyer is untenable.

As Ackland states:

Indeed, there is a presumption of innocence that people cling to. A conviction requires compliance with a legal standard.

But, that’s politics, with an entirely different standard. A democracy cannot have as the first officer of the court a person against whom there is an unresolved allegation of rape.

In these circumstances, legal presumptions do not come down to a mountain of beans – the Prime Minister’s statement on ministerial standards says the same. This is what washes away politically, and if the allegation is seen as a deadweight to Schmo’s regime, then the Christian will have to walk the plank. Proof or no proof.

Morrison and Porter are not suitable

The dirty war on women by the body politic led by self-proclaimed father of the nation and Hillsong propagandist Scott Morrison now justifies his resignation as prime minister.

He is not fit for purpose. Neither does Christian Porter.

Weeks of cowardly obfuscation and the categorical failure to embrace due diligence duties towards accusers, instead of always deferring and protecting the accused, draw inspiration from the Catholic Church’s continuing hymn sheet; her words mingled with a poisonous misogyny where the powerful and not the humble inherit the Earth and women are servants and toys of men – there for the taking. There for the break.

Stains of stale semen from alleged rapists, spanning decades, now stain the pages of Hansard and our collective history.

Tragically, a woman, an alleged victim of a historic rape by a current Cabinet minister, has already died at her own hands and several others are seriously injured. The number of bodies may well be higher. The number of allegations may well increase as more victims and alleged supporters come forward.

One of the reasons I asked Ackland for permission to loot his article was to show how easy it is to build a case for an independent investigation into Porter’s alleged rape.

It disgusted me to hear Porter say that he hadn’t bothered to read the deceased woman’s statement prepared for police. Excuse me? Is our Attorney General speaking? Who the hell does he think he is? Where does he go?

His stupid behavior was compounded by his stupidity. Hearing him deny something he hadn’t read was ridiculous. How did he know then what he was denying?

What if the Commonwealth or the State Police think they can get away with saying that there is no need to answer without even questioning Christian Porter or the other “boys” as he called the other members of the team? debate – or the woman’s relatives – then they are clearly not properly investigating the matter and are unable to give a solid opinion to the people they have forgotten they are serving.

Did the woman commit suicide? Was she pushed into this? Has she been threatened? We need answers.

Just as Christian Porter has a right to the presumption of innocence, she also has a right to be believed – and that belief has been tested to the extent possible.

I hope the family will let us all know his name. Because, Mr. Prime Minister, you and your wife Jenny might well ask yourself “what if she had been your daughter?” “

The thing is Mr. Morrison, it’s your daughter. She’s the girl I never had.

She’s everyone’s daughter.

If you would like to talk to someone about sexual violence, please call the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online.

ASSISTANCE CONTACT NUMBERS

Lifeline Telephone: 13 11 14 Website: www.lifeline.org.au

Blue Knot Foundation Counseling and support for survivors Telephone: 1300 657 380

Bravehearts Inc Counseling and Survivor Support, Child Protection Advocacy Phone: 1800 272 831

Child WiseThe Trauma-informed phone and online counseling for child abuse. Training and organizational capacity building on the prevention of child abuse Telephone: 1 800 991 099

Children and Young People with Disability Australia The supreme national body for children and youth with disabilities. Provides information and systemic representation Telephone: 1800 222 660/03 9417 1025

The Healing FoundationService to help build the capacity of Indigenous organizations and support the development of the Link Up network

In Good Faith Foundation Independent advocacy, case work, referral and support to assist in the recovery of survivors, their families and communities responding to religious institutional abuse Phone: 03 9326 1190

MensLine Australia A national helpline and online service, information and referral service for men with family and relationship issues Telephone: 1300 78 99 78

People with Disability Australia The national hotline for providing information and referrals to people with disabilities Phone: 1 800 422 015 / TTY: 1 800 422 016

Sexual Assault Counseling Australia A national telephone counseling service for people who have experienced abuse. Face to face counseling is available in New South Wales Phone: 1800 211 028

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