Opposition leader Bill Shorten has spoken out about police investigations that cleared him of an allegation that he raped a 16-year-old girl during the 1980s.
Mr Shorten decided to put the matter into the public domain in the hope that he could put it behind him, saying “there is absolutely no basis to the claims.”
The investigation began last October after allegations surfaced on social media following his election as parliamentary leader of the Labor Party and complaints to police.
As a result, a task force was set by Victorian Police last year to investigate an incident alleged to have occurred during an overnight camp for Young Labor at Geelong in 1986 when Mr Shorten was 19.
“I freely answered all the questions that the police asked of me,” he told reporters. “Now the police investigation is concluded, I can make this statement. The easy option would be to say nothing, but that is not who I am.
“This has been deeply distressing for my family. I’m thankful for the love and support of Chloe and the support of my staff and parliamentary colleagues.”
“Others who are aware of the investigation have acted with the utmost integrity by leaving the police to do their job.”
In explaining his decision to go public, Mr Shorten said he would not go into the details, “except to say that the allegation was untrue and abhorrent. The allegation was made by someone that I knew briefly at that time.”
“The police have now concluded the investigation. The decision speaks for itself. It is over. I have no intention of making any further comment,” he said.
“In all fairness, I am entitled to draw a line on this.”
