'Woke Up Mid-Rape': Woman Accuses She Was Raped In Australian Parliament; PM Issues Apology

The 25-year-old made the sensational revelation while speaking to online news publication where she said that she had feared losing her job after the 2019 incident and had very little support from her bosses.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

New Delhi: In an unexpected turn of events, an Australian women has accused of being raped in country's Parliament two years ago by an unnamed man. As per the allegations, the victim was raped in the office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in March 2019 by someone who also worked for the ruling Liberal party.

The 25-year-old made the sensational revelation while speaking to online news publication where she said that she had feared losing her job after the 2019 incident and had very little support from her bosses.

Soon after the interview, shock and a massive outrage was witnessed on social media forcing the Australian Prime Minister to issue an apology. PM Scott Morrison apologised to the former political advisor who alleged that she was rape by her senior colleague in Parliament. 

Morrison said he was "shattered" by her claims, and had called for a review into parliament's environment and culture. "I hope her call is a wake-up call for all of us," he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

As per the claims, the victim was 24 when she joined the new job in Defence Industry Minister office and it all happened when once she went out for drinks with a group including her and the accused. She said she was offered her a lift home by the man at the end of the night, but instead he took her to Parliament House.

While further narrating the incident, victim claimed was drunk and fell asleep in the minister's office, before waking to find the man sexually assaulting her. "I woke up mid-rape essentially," she told Network Ten. "I started crying... I told him to stop."

She also claimed that after informing her employer, she felt Reynolds' office tried to 'manage' the situation, downplaying the entire incident. 

Meanwhile, Australian PM said such an event "should not have happened", saying it would spark a review of the complaints procedure in parliament. He also announced a review into the professional culture of parliament, saying problems crossed over party lines.