Australia police to charge man after rape allegation in Parliament House by staffer
Australian police said on Friday they will charge a 26-year-old man after a former government staff member alleged she was raped inside the country’s Parliament House.
Brittany Higgins, a former staffer for then Defense Industry minister Linda Reynolds, went public earlier this year with allegations she was sexually assaulted in Parliament House in March, 2019.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Weeks after going public, Higgins said she had made an official allegation to police. She has since become a prominent campaigner of gender equality and justice for victims of sexual assault and her story helped spark protests around the nation including outside Australia’s parliament.
Federal Police in Canberra, Australia’s capital, said on Friday they had summoned an unnamed man to appear before court in September when he will be charged with sexual intercourse without consent.
Police did not specify which allegation the charges related to but said it occurred in Parliament House on March 23, 2019.
Local media quoted Higgins as saying she had been told by authorities that the summons related to her allegation.
Reuters could not contact Higgins, while her partner did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Higgins’ allegation stirred a groundswell of pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison, whose government was already dogged by accusations of improper behavior towards women.
The accused man will face one charge of sexual intercourse without consent. The maximum penalty is 12 years imprisonment, police said.
Read more: Australia's PM apologises, promises probe after allegation of rape in parliament
-
Protests kick off in Australia amid growing anger over rape accusations
Thousands protested in Australia’s Perth on Sunday, kicking off a nationwide campaign for gender equality as anger swells over rape accusations that ... World News -
Australian police rule out investigation of cabinet minister accused of rape
Police on Tuesday ruled out investigating an unnamed Australian Cabinet minister over an allegation that he raped a 16-year-old girl more than 30 ... World News -
Australia's PM apologises, promises probe after allegation of rape in parliament
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologised on Tuesday to a woman who alleged she was raped in the country's parliament by an unnamed ... World News