Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he stands by denials made by senator Eric Abetz that he discussed the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins with a Tasmanian parliamentarian in a derogatory manner.
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House of Assembly speaker Sue Hickey on Wednesday made an address under parliamentary privilege in which she detailed a conversation with Senator Abetz on rape accusations in Australian Parliament.
The matters discussed included the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins by a co-worker in a ministerial office in 2019 and a historic rape allegation against Attorney-General Christian Porter.
Mr Porter has denied the allegation against him.
Ms Hickey said Senator Abetz said Mr Porter would be protected by law as his female accuser was dead.
She said the senator said Ms Higgins should not have been so drunk when the alleged rape had occurred.
"No one, no matter how drunk or what they wear or where they walk at night, deserves to be sexually assaulted," Ms Hickey said.
"I say to the senator on this matter, Ms Higgins did not choose to sleep with this man, she was raped."
She went on to accuse Senator Abetz of "slut-shaming" Ms Higgins.
Senator Abetz has categorically denied Ms Hickey's allegations.
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Premier Peter Gutwein in a statement late on Wednesday said Ms Hickey raised the matter with him a few weeks ago, but not to the level of detail provided in her statement in Parliament.
He said she did not make a formal complaint to him or request that he take action.
Mr Gutwein said he had written to Mr Morrison about the allegations and requested that he consider the matters that were raised.
He said he had spoken to the party's state director Stuart Smith and Senator Abetz about the issue.
Mr Morrison told ABC Radio on Thursday morning said Mr Gutwein's letter did not provide any additional information to support Ms Hickey's claims made in Parliament on Wednesday.
"He's just raised the matter and said it was raised with him," he said.
"But he has no additional information and he doesn't corroborate or confirm any of these things.
"He's just simply mentioned this matter to me."