Aussie PM apologises to former employee allegedly raped in Parliament
CANBERRA : Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologised yesterday to a woman who alleged that she was sexually assaulted in Parliament two years ago for the way her complaint was handled, ordering a probe into the government's workplace culture.
Ms Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped by a male colleague in now Defence Minister Linda Reynolds' office in 2019, after a night out drinking with Liberal Party colleagues.
Ms Higgins told news.com.au that after she reported the incident to a superior, she was asked to attend a formal employment meeting in the same room the alleged rape occurred.
Then aged 24 and a few months into her "dream job", she described feeling forced to choose between her career and making a report to police.
Police confirmed they had spoken to Ms Higgins in April 2019, but she chose not to make a formal complaint.
Ms Reynolds on Monday confirmed she had been told of the complaint in 2019, though she denied Ms Higgins was pressured into not making a report.
Mr Morrison yesterday apologised to Ms Higgins and promised an investigation.
"That should not have happened, and I do apologise," Mr Morrison told reporters.
"I want to make sure any young woman working in this place is as safe as possible."
Ms Reynolds also apologised a few hours later.
"Saying sorry is often the hardest thing for those of us who work in this place to say," Ms Reynolds said. "But can I say today, sorry is the easiest word for me to say." - REUTERS, AFP
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