PM Scott Morrison says the decision whether to hold an inquest is entirely one for the coroner and it would be “highly inappropriate” for any politician to interfere.

PM Scott Morrison says the decision whether to hold an inquest is entirely one for the coroner and it would be “highly inappropriate” for any politician to interfere.Credit:Kate Geraghty

In June 2020,two days before her death,she emailed detectives to say she could no longer proceed with the complaint for “medical and personal reasons”,NSW Police said in a statement this week. Itsinvestigation is now closed.

Mr Morrison insisted there was “no alternative process” to that police investigation.

“Given that process has concluded,the presumption of innocence stands. And so we should be able to move on from that,” he said.

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Mr Porter emphatically denied the accusation on Wednesday,saying “it just did not happen” and arguing an independent investigation would require him to prove a negative.

He said no one had ever put to him “in any substantive form … the details of what appears is now being alleged against me”.

NSW Police said it would not be usual procedure to provide a version of an allegation to a suspect before the alleged victim had made a formal complaint.

National Sexual Assault,Family&Domestic Violence Counselling Line:1800 737 732. Crisis support can be found at Lifeline:(13 11 14 andlifeline.org.au),the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467 andsuicidecallbackservice.org.au) and beyondblue (1300 22 4636 andbeyondblue.org.au).

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