“Brittany talked it being her dream job. We are all privileged – whether it s members of Parliament, the people who work in our offices, indeed, those who work in the Gallery and get to do what we do in this place – it is a privilege,” Morrison said. “We should be able to go about that important work safely. There should not be an environment where a young woman can find herself in such a vulnerable situation. That is not OK.” Morrison was asked about the meeting between Higgins and Reynolds in the office where the alleged assault occurred.
9news “That should not have happened and I do apologise. That shouldn t have happened.”
Morrison apologizes after ex-staffer alleges rape in Parliament House 1 minute read
Sydney, Australia, Feb 16 (efe-epa).- Australia’s prime minister on Tuesday apologized to a former Liberal party staffer who alleges she was raped by a colleague in Parliament House two years ago.
Party leader and prime minister Scott Morrison also promised an investigation into the culture in Parliament House.
Brittany Higgins told local media on Monday that a colleague raped her in now-Defense Minister Linda Reynolds’ office in March 2019, when she was 24 and just a month into her role.
Higgins said she went to the police in April of the same year but eventually decided not to proceed with the complaint for fear that she would lose her “dream job.”
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has apologised for the treatment of former adviser Brittany Higgins, who says she felt “dismissed” after an alleged rape in a ministerial office in March 2019.
In addition to apologising, Morrison also announced the launch of an investigation into “processes dealing with sexual assault complaints”, and a “review of workplace.