How Dutton found out about Parliament rape case before Scott Morrison
A special investigations board at the Australian Federal Police discussed the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins on February 11 this year, triggering formal advice to Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton about her case.
The board, chaired by deputy commissioner Ian McCartney, considered the case five days after Ms Higgins contacted the police about a complaint she had first lodged in April 2019.
The moves meant Mr Dutton knew crucial details of the matter one day before media inquiries were made to the office of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, raising new questions about why the leader of the government was not told earlier about the alleged assault in a ministerial suite.
The revelations come as Defence Minister Linda Reynolds undergoes checks in a Canberra hospital after suffering a recurrence of a pre-existing medical condition that led her to contact her cardiologist andtake medical leave.
Mr Dutton told Parliament on Wednesday the AFP told him of the case on February 11 but he did not elaborate on what he was told and he was not asked whether he had passed any of the information to the Prime Minister’s office.
The response raised more questions about when the government knew of the case, given statements that Mr Morrison’s office took media queries about it on February 12.
Mr Morrison has told Parliament several times that he found out about the alleged rape when it was reported in the media on Monday, February 15.
Well ,IMO, its don't ask don't tell policy in play.
Raider
