Christian Porter’s ex-wife adds voice to thousands

The ex-wife of Attorney-General Christian Porter was among thousands of West Australians to march across the Perth CBD in protest of gender discrimination and violence. As Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would meet representatives from the Women’s March4Justice when they land at Parliament House on Monday, Federal politicians got a taste of what to expect after thousands of women, men and children protested in Forrest Place. The West Australian can reveal that Lucy Gunn, Mr Porter’s first wife, joined protestors who have been left outraged over allegations of sexual assault in the country’s corridors of power. The Perth event came three weeks after former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins went public with allegations she was raped by an ex-colleague in the office of her boss, WA Senator Linda Reynolds. Senator Reynolds faced intense scrutiny for her handling of the allegations. She has since taken medical leave and will be absent for the next two weeks of the parliamentary sitting, which will include a week of intense questions in senate estimates. Mr Porter, her WA Liberal colleague, will also be absent on extended medical leave after explosive allegations broke claiming he raped a woman in the 1980s on a debating tour in Sydney. The Attorney-General — who last year said there were no third parties involved when announcing he had split from his second wife — vehemently denies the allegations. He said he knew the woman, who took her own life last year, for the “briefest of periods”. Mr Morrison said he would not attend the rally outside Parliament House on Monday but invited a delegation to meet him privately. “I’m very happy to receive a delegation and I’ll respectfully receive that as I’m sure they will respectfully engage with me,” he said. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said he would be attending the event, which shone a light on the “scourge of violence against women and against children”. Mr Albanese said the Government faced a “difficult situation” but it was “one that has to be dealt with”. Monday’s march on Parliament House will see organisers deliver a petition calling for actions including Federal Parliament to have a 50:50 gender split by 2030, independent investigations into cases of gendered violence, the strengthening of the Sex Discrimination Act and mandatory gendered violence and sexual harassment training for MPs and their staff. A representative of the marchers confirmed to The West Australian a delegation would be organised and it hoped to meet the Prime Minister this week.

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Christian Porter’s ex-wife adds voice to thousands