Australian Federal Police commissioner Reece Kershaw wrote the strongly-worded memo as arguments rage about the handling of Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins rape allegations.
Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie says she doubts Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has the strength to hold her position against top male military figures and should step down from the role for the sake of her wellbeing.
“I have said in the past I am terribly concerned about her strength up against those men, especially the ones with the big military medals they’re wearing out there,” Ms Lambie told Sky News.
“I’ve said that right from the start, I’m not sure whether she actually had the strength to take them on and I still don’t believe that.
“Those men can be extremely overpowering if you don’t know how to handle them, that’s the environment in there, that’s the way it is”.
Asked who would be a suitable replacement for Ms Reynolds, Ms Lambie pointed to Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.
“I think that if I had my pick I’d have to put Peter Dutton in there to be honest, just from his background in policing, he’s a big guy, I don’t think you’d
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has now spoken to police and proceeded with a formal complaint to the Australian Federal Police regarding her allegations she was sexually assaulted at Parliament House in 2019.
The AFP have since released a statement confirming they are investigating the alleged assault.
Brittany Higgins was a media advisor to Defence Minister Linda Reynolds when she says she was sexually assaulted by a male Liberal Party staffer in the Minister’s office, following a night of drinking.
Brittany Higgins s rape allegations encourage more women to come forward to report sexual assault
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ThuThursday 25
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ThuThursday 25
Brittany Higgins s allegations have prompted a surge of complaints to federal police.
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The intense publicity surrounding Brittany Higgins s alleged rape in a ministerial office has prompted a surge of women reporting sexual assault to police in the nation s capital.
Key points:
Some of the fresh allegations relate to other incidents at Parliament House with different perpetrators
Two formal complaints have been made to police about the man who allegedly raped Ms Higgins
Police have yet to speak to the man about the allegations