Defence Minister Linda Reynolds brought to tears

mellowyellow

mellowyellow

Well-known Member
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Defence Minister Linda Reynolds apologised to Brittany Higgins during Question Time on Thursday.(AAP: Mike Tsikas)

After days of sustained pressure over how she handled the alleged rape of one of her staff, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds wiped away tears and was unable to answer questions in the Senate.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds says she is "deeply sorry" for adding to Brittany Higgins's distress. Ms Higgins had previously said she felt unsupported by her then-boss Ms Reynolds, and criticised Prime Minister Scott Morrison for "victim-blaming".....

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02...senate-brittany-higgins-alleged-rape/13170136
 

The man responsible has not been named and it's unlikely he will ever be charged but yesterday he checked himself into a hospital with mental health issues. He left his Parliamentary job and now works in Sydney.
 
Warrigal said:
Politics is a no go zone on this forum Mellow which prevents me from adding to this topic. I will say, however, that there are two women scarred by these events - the rape victim and the female minister left carrying the can for men who sit higher up on the totem pole.
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I didn't realise you were a moderator Warrigal.
 
This is a story about rape and how it was covered up. I thought you two girls would be sympathetic to the cause.
 
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Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has been admitted to hospital and will take immediate medical leave.

After 10 days of sustained pressure over her handling of an alleged rape in her office in 2019 she will now not front up to Parliament for the rest of the week.

Last week Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped at Parliament House in Senator Reynolds’ ministerial office by a colleague in March 2019.

Ms Higgins claimed she felt forced to choose between reporting it to the police or keeping her job.

A spokeswoman for Senator Reynolds said this morning: “This follows advice from her cardiologist relating to a pre-existing medical condition.”

“As a precautionary measure, Minister Reynolds has this morning been admitted to a Canberra Hospital.
 
Hi Mellow, your post is a classic example of why a politics ban on any forum is problematic. As you have rightly said, your post is about rape, not politics, but given politicians and staffers are central to the whole sorry story, what is allowed gets a little muddied.

This is a huge story in Australia, but we are reluctant to enter into the fray, no matter how much we might like to. Personally, I think that is a pity.
 
Can I just throw in the comment, "if the man concerned has not been convicted of rape in a court, (or admitted the crime and somehow avoided court, " died" for example), then he shouldn't really be described as guilty", (lest words stop meaning what most folks usually interpret or understand them to mean).

On the other hand the woman who in all likelihood was raped from the sounds of things and I've only read the reports here too, (though as stated above doubt remains until a conviction), should indeed have all our support, as much, if not more so, from men who believe the crime abhorrent!
 
There is the question of duty of care for an employee and this young woman was let down in many ways, first by the security staff who unlocked the office, who saw her half undressed and insensible and who discussed calling an ambulance, but did not. Her direct employer, the minister who is now in hospital, did not report the matter to police after the event. The young woman has decided that after waiting two years for justice that she herself will make a formal complaint today to the federal police. The delay will not be in her favour though.
 
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grahamg said:
Can I just throw in the comment, "if the man concerned has not been convicted of rape in a court, (or admitted the crime and somehow avoided court, " died" for example), then he shouldn't really be described as guilty", (lest words stop meaning what most folks usually interpret or understand them to mean).

On the other hand the woman who in all likelihood was raped from the sounds of things and I've only read the reports here too, (though as stated above doubt remains until a conviction), should indeed have all our support, as much, if not more so, from men who believe the crime abhorrent!
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Maybe I, for one, should have used the word 'alleged' more often, but I don't think anyone on here has actually described the man as 'guilty'. His guilt or innocence will be decided by the courts if it ever gets that far. As Warrigal said, there hasn't even been a formal complaint made yet, as far as we know. That may happen today.

The story, at least at this point, is all about the girl and the way her complaint was handled by her employers. There are to be four separate investigations into an 'alleged' assault, and 'alleged' cover-up.

It must be stormy weather in Canberra at the moment, the way everyone is ducking for cover.
 
Leonie said:
Maybe I, for one, should have used the word 'alleged' more often, but I don't think anyone on here has actually described the man as 'guilty'. His guilt or innocence will be decided by the courts if it ever gets that far. As Warrigal said, there hasn't even been a formal complaint made yet, as far as we know. That may happen today.

The story, at least at this point, is all about the girl and the way her complaint was handled by her employers. There are to be four separate investigations into an 'alleged' assault, and 'alleged' cover-up.

It must be stormy weather in Canberra at the moment, the way everyone is ducking for cover.
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I picked up on the words, "The man responsible", though I admit it doesn't go on to specifically state he was responsible/guilty of rape, in post 2, (so not from your post).
 

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