Thread by @WholePicture_

Australia's government has to deal with old and new rape allegations
The allegations reach into the cabinet and shed light on the “toxic atmosphere” for women in Canberra.

#Australia #SCANDAL #discrimination #women

nzz.ch/international/…

For a week now, sexual abuse and allegations of brutal rape by a minister have dominated the Australian media and countless conversations across Australia.

Justice Minister Christian Porter gave a press conference. He spoke out on allegations of brutally raping a young woman 33 years ago. In doing so, he put an end to speculation as to who was the culprit in an anonymous letter sent to the government and several women politicians.

Before that, all men in the government were suspected.

Porter vehemently denied the allegation. In 1988, at the time of the alleged incident, he was only 17 years old.

There will be no legal investigation into the incident: Porter's accuser committed suicide in June 2020 after police investigations into her case were delayed by months due to internal border closings in Australia during the corona pandemic.

On Tuesday, the police investigation was completely stopped due to a lack of evidence of a crime.

The police never spoke to the Justice Minister.

Many Australians are not satisfied with this and are demanding an independent investigation into the allegations. Politicians point to the sexist and misogynist atmosphere in Canberra.

The allegations against Justice Minister Porter are not isolated cases either. There are many other rape investigations going on.

The situation at the seat of government and parliament in Canberra reflects the misogynist atmosphere in many parts of Australian society.

The expensive, privileged private schools that many politicians have attended are particularly striking.

These schools are gender segregated. Gender issues are hardly discussed at the boys' schools.

Many young men who have graduated from these schools see themselves as part of an elite that can afford anything - especially towards women and girls.

The young women are starting to fight back: 3,000 schoolgirls have already signed a petition documenting numerous sexual assaults and abuse by boys against girls.

The girls are calling for better educational classes for boys that convey the concept of consent to sexual acts and respectful relationships. Over a hundred heads of boys' schools have now teamed up to jointly develop a teaching concept.