Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has apologized to a former staff member for the way his allegation of sexual assault was handled after he alleged that a colleague raped her.
Former employee Brittany Higgins said she received no support when she reported she was raped two years ago in the office of then-Defense Minister Linda Reynolds, Higgins said in an interview Monday reported the Associated Press.
Higgins said Reynolds questioned her story and had her meet at the office where the alleged rape took place.
“That shouldn’t have happened, and I apologize,” Morrison said, condemning the meeting at the same office where the alleged rape took place.
“I deeply and deeply regret having held the meeting in my office where the alleged incident occurred,” Reynolds said.
Higgins has not named the man she was accusing, but says she was fired because she left her alone in the office, which is considered a security breach.
Higgins said he did not speak because he wanted to jeopardize his future job, although Reynolds said Higgins’ occupation would never be threatened if he presented himself, according to The Associated Press.
“We need to do more, whether in this workplace or any other workplace in the country, to ensure that people can work safely in their place and be in the best possible time and do what they did in this work, ”Morrison said.
Morrison has ordered that the culture of Parliament be researched and that new procedures be put in place to create a better job.