In a rare show of empathy for all the women subjected to gender harassment, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday apologised to a former government staffer who was raped in the office of a minister. The incident, which happened two years ago, came to light recently and the PM apologised to the woman saying it should not have happned.
The former staffer, identified as Brittany Higgins, told a TV channel that she was raped by a colleague while she was working in the defence minister's office. She said the incident occurred in 2019, but she did not dare to complain as she was afraid of losing her job. On coming to know about this incident, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this should not have happened. He said the allegation was a wakeup call that must drive change within Parliament house. He further said that the through that a young woman found herself in a vulnerable situation has left him shattered.
Brittany has later issued a statement thanking the prime minister for his empathy. Higgins, in whose office Brittany was working then, said that the parliament house needed an independent reporting mechanism to prevent the recurrence of such events.
The former staffer, identified as Brittany Higgins, told a TV channel that she was raped by a colleague while she was working in the defence minister's office. She said the incident occurred in 2019, but she did not dare to complain as she was afraid of losing her job. On coming to know about this incident, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this should not have happened. He said the allegation was a wakeup call that must drive change within Parliament house. He further said that the through that a young woman found herself in a vulnerable situation has left him shattered.
Brittany has later issued a statement thanking the prime minister for his empathy. Higgins, in whose office Brittany was working then, said that the parliament house needed an independent reporting mechanism to prevent the recurrence of such events.