Christian Porter launches defamation action against ABC over historical rape allegation

• Christian Porter has commenced defamation action against the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan in relation to the airing of a historical rape allegation
• The broadcaster recently aired an allegation that a senior cabinet minister has been accused of rape 30 years ago
• The Attorney-General (AG) wasn’t named in the story, however, his legal team argues he was easily identifiable to the public
• In response to the ABC’s story, Porter went public to deny that he had sexually assaulted a 16-year-old in 1988
• The AG’s lawyers have stated he will testify part of the defamation proceedings, giving Porter the opportunity to deny the allegation under oath

Attorney-General Christian Porter has commenced defamation action against the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan in relation to the airing of a historical rape allegation.

The Four Corners reporter aired the historical rape allegation in a recent article, revealing that a senior cabinet minister has been accused of rape 30 years ago in a letter sent to several high-profile politicians, including the Prime Minister.

Porter wasn’t named in the story, however, the Attorney-General’s legal team argued he was “easily identifiable to many Australians as the subject of the allegations.”

In response to the ABC’s story, as well as wider media coverage, the Attorney General went public to deny that he had sexually assaulted a 16-year-old in 1988 when he was 17.

He’s now decided to push ahead with legal action, launching a defamation suit in the Federal Court of Australia against the Four Corners reporter and the national broadcaster.

In a statement, Porter’s legal team said the article in question “made false allegations against him in relation to a person who he met when he was a teenager.”

“Over the last few weeks, the Attorney-General has been subjected to trial by media without regard to the presumption of innocence or the rules of evidence and without any proper disclosure of the material said to support the untrue allegations,” his lawyers stated.

“The trial by media should now end with the commencement of these proceedings,” they added.

The AG’s lawyers also stated that he will use the Federal Court action to deny the rape allegation under oath.

NSW Police finished its investigation into the allegation after the woman involved took her own life, stating there wasn’t enough “satisfactory admissible evidence” to proceed with their inquiry.

Calls for an independent inquiry into the allegation, and Porter’s suitability to remain as Attorney General, have also been hosed down by the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, news of Porter’s defamation action comes as a March 4 Justice rally gets underway in Canberra, with women pushing for the Federal Government to act following recent complaints within Parliament of alleged sexual assault.