Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dismissed calls to stand down a Cabinet Minister at the centre of a historical rape allegation, saying the minister involved "vigorously rejected" the accusation.
An anonymous letter detailing the allegation was sent to Mr Morrison, Labor Senator Penny Wong and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young last Friday, with the complaint referred to the Australian Federal Police.
The letter contained details of an alleged rape of a woman in 1988 when she was 16 years old.
Asked if he had confronted the MP and whether the MP had denied the allegations, Mr Morrison said: "Yes, I have and he absolutely does."
"The individual involved here has vigorously rejected these allegations, and so it's a matter for the police," he said.
The Australian Federal Police has confirmed it received a complaint relating to a historical sexual assault.
NSW Police suspended its investigation into the matter after the woman at the centre of the allegations took her own life last year.
Speaking for the first time since the allegation was made public, Mr Morrison said he had been briefed on the contents of the letter - but did not say whether he had read the woman's claims.
Mr Morrison said he would not take any specific action beyond leaving the allegations in the hands of police.
“We can’t have a situation where the mere making of an allegation, and that being publicised through the media, is grounds for governments to stand people down simply on the basis of that,” he said.
“We have a rule of law in this country and it’s appropriate that these things were referred to the federal police – they have been. They're the people who are competent and authorised to deal with issues of this sensitivity and this seriousness."
Mr Morrison also confirmed he had discussed the incident with AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw but said this did not raise any "immediate" issue he should act on.
"There are no matters that require attention," he said.
When asked if he believed the allegations were false, Mr Morrison insisted it was a question for the police to determine.
But it is uncertain whether the matter will progress through the criminal justice system given the woman has taken her own life.
Labor deputy leader Richard Marles said a decision on standing the minister aside is one for Mr Morrison.
“Well, ultimately, that is a matter for the Prime Minister,” he said.
"These matters are in the hands of the Federal Police and we need to let those processes play out.”
Greens Senator Hanson-Young had earlier called for the minister to be stood aside pending an independent investigation into the allegations.
Marque Lawyers partner, Michael Bradley, who represented the woman when she took the complaint to police, has also questioned whether the minister could do his job with his integrity under question.
“The fact remains a sitting senior Cabinet Minister has been accused of a very serious crime and it's untenable that he continues in his role without that being addressed and dealt with,” he told SBS News.
“To pretend otherwise is defying reality.”
Mr Bradley also called for an independent inquiry to be held into the matter.
“If the minister himself is not prepared to stand down, then the Prime Minister needs to take action, stand the minister down and institute an independent inquiry,” he said.
The allegations have come to light in the wake of Brittany Higgins going public with her account alleging she was raped by a male colleague inside Parliament House.
The alleged incident has sparked a number of inquiries into workplace culture and the handling of harassment complaints inside Parliament.
Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson has also forwarded police an email from another woman who claims she was raped by a serving Labor MP in a separate incident.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg earlier said the government minister at the centre of allegations was entitled to the presumption of innocence.
"Here in Australia we adhere to the rule of law and fundamental to the rule of law is the presumption of innocence. Every Australian deserves that right," he told reporters.
South Australian Police are also preparing a report for the state coroner investigating the circumstances of the woman's death.
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