Australian minister ‘deeply regrets’ calling rape accuser a ‘lying cow’

Prime Minister Scott Morrison backs his defence minister over ‘offensive remarks’

The defence minister of Australia is under fire for referring to her former aide as a “lying cow” after the staffer went public with allegations of rape in Parliament House.

Senator Linda Reynolds has not denied making the comments, which prime minister Scott Morrison described as “offensive” and “inappropriate”.

The remarks were made on 15 February, the same day her former staffer Brittany Higgins went public with an allegation of rape against a former adviser to Ms Reynolds. Media reports have only just emerged of the way the senator spoke about Ms Higgins at the time, however.

In a statement after her disparaging remarks came to light, Ms Reynolds said she had never questioned the sexual assault allegations levelled by her former political adviser.

“I have never questioned Ms Higgins’ account of her alleged sexual assault and have always sought to respect her agency in this matter. I did however comment on news reports regarding surrounding circumstances that I felt had been misrepresented,” the defence minister said in a statement late on Wednesday.

Mr Morrison backed his besieged defence minister on Thursday, saying that she "deeply regrets" her remarks and that they were passed in the heat of the moment.

“She apologised to the staff about making what were inappropriate comments, long before it became public,” Mr Morrison told the media. “She deeply regrets it. They were offensive remarks. She should never have made them. I don’t condone them. But what matters is that we continue to address the substance of the issues.”

Responding to calls for her resignation, Mr Morrison said her remark had come "in her private office in a stressful week".

Ms Higgins alleged that she was assaulted in Ms Reynold’s ministerial office on the night of 22 March 2019 by a senior colleague. The accused was later fired for a separate reason. Ms Higgins reported the matter to the police but withdrew the complaint in April 2019, she says, due to fear about the impact it would have on her career.

Responding to the reports, Ms Higgins told the Guardian Australia that the remarks from her former boss were "incredibly hurtful" and such language was "never excusable".

“I appreciate that it has been a stressful time but that sort of behaviour and language is never excusable,” she was quoted as saying. “It’s just further evidence of the toxic workplace culture that exists behind closed doors in parliament house.”

Her decision to go public with the allegation was followed by another rape accusation against attorney-general Christian Porter. The allegations against Mr Porter came to light last week when an anonymous letter detailing the claims was sent to Mr Morrison and other members of parliament.

Mr Porter on Wednesday categorically denied raping a 16-year-old in 1988, when he was 17 years old, declaring he would not resign from his post.

His accuser reported her complaint to New South Wales Police (NSWP) last year but did not make a formal statement. She died in June last year aged 49 and NSWP subsequently suspended its investigation.

Mr Morrison, who is under pressure to call for an independent inquiry into the historical rape allegation, stood by Mr Porter and his right to being presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“I have to make my decisions based on the process followed by the police. There is no other alternative for a prime minister than the rule of law,” Mr Morrison said.