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More decisions expected to be made on Porter’s role
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged that he has received advice and will be making another decision on what roles federal Attorney-General Christian Porter can perform when he returns to work at the end of the month.
Naomi Neilson
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It is in addition to Scott Morrison’s confirmation that Christian Porter’s roles as they relate to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Federal Court of Australia would be passed over to another minister pending Mr Porter’s defamation proceedings against the media broadcaster and one of its journalists.
In response to a question on whether he has rethought his response to allegations that Mr Porter raped a girl when they were both teenagers – an allegation that the Attorney-General has strenuously denied – Mr Morrison told media in Canberra during a press conference that he has been seeking advice on what to do.
“As I indicated, I have been getting advice from the solicitor-general. I have received that advice and am now taking advice through the department about how that sits with ministerial standards and I will be making further decisions on that matter. I will alert you to those when they are made,” Mr Morrison commented.
Not long after, senator Murray Watt used estimates to list the portfolio that Mr Porter would ordinarily be responsible for, including the administration of criminal justice, issuing ASIO warrants when required, courts and tribunals.
“There’s barely any role that Mr Porter is not conflicted from,” Mr Watts put to acting Attorney-General Michaelia Cash. “How can he remain as Attorney-General? How is it possibly tenable for Mr Porter to remain as Attorney-General of this country when he has such serious clouds to perform most of his duties?”
In response to the constant questioning from Mr Watts, Ms Cash repeatedly told him that the Prime Minister would be considering the Solicitor-General’s advice.
Mr Porter is suing the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan over an online article that did not name him, but that he alleged made it clear that he was the cabinet minister accused of raping a girl some 30 years ago. He has retained Sydney barristers Bret Walker SC and Sue Chrysanthou SC in his pursuit of damages.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
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