Content warning: This article contains references to sexual assault.

Australia’s Attorney-General has denied a rape allegation, though some aspects of his denial have been thrown into doubt. 

Attorney-General Christian Porter held a press conference in Perth on Wednesday in which he emotionally protested being subjected to a “public trial by media”, after being accused of raping a teenager in Sydney in 1988.

Before he went public, many had deduced the identity of the previously unnamed alleged perpetrator, tipped-off by a flurry of changes to Mr Porter’s Wikipedia page over the weekend after the story broke. 

One of Mr Porter’s central complaints was that no media outlets had contacted him about the specific allegations before publishing details.

“I am personally struggling to wrap my head around....why I have never been contacted by anyone...no journalist has ever put the allegations to me,” he said. 

Several of those that covered the story have denied this claim. 

Crikey investigative reporter Amber Schultz said she emailed “every single male cabinet minister’s media team multiple times this week and have not received any response from anyone”.

Guardian Australia said its emails and phone calls on the weekend went unreturned.

3AW radio broadcaster Neil Mitchell said his program tried to contact Mr Porter’s office, but did not have its calls returned.

The ABC has stated that several of its reporters had contacted Mr Porter’s office repeatedly, offering many opportunities for a response.

Reporters also contacted the Prime Minister’s office with the allegations, and were met with a statement reading; “As per the AFP Commissioner’s instruction, any complaints or allegations of this nature made to anybody – whether they’re parliamentarians or journalists – should be referred to the AFP.”

The Attorney-General has gone on leave, seen off with the support of Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“I spoke to the Attorney[-General] yesterday and I’m pleased that he’s taking some time to get support to deal with what has obviously been a very traumatic series of events, as you’d appreciate,” Mr Morrison said.

“He’s getting that support, as well as the support of his colleagues, as he takes that time. I’m looking forward to him returning to his duties once that period of leave is completed.”

He did not offer any similar condolences to the traumatic series of events that befell Mr Porter’s accuser. 

It is also not the first time Mr Porter’s conduct and seeming disregard for women has been presented in media reports.  

In an episode of the ABC’s Four Corners last year, Mr Porter was labelled “deeply sexist”, and alleged to have used his position to attempt to obscure an alleged affair with a junior staffer.

“For a long time Christian has benefited from the silence around his conduct and his behaviour,” barrister Kathleen Foley - who has known Mr Porter for decades - told Four Corners. 

“That silence has meant that his behaviour has been tolerated and after a certain amount of time, the silence means that it’s condoned and it’s acceptable.”

While the Federal Government seeks desperately to make its repeated accusations of sexual crime and misogynist culture disappear, the media continues its vital democratic service.

There is also growing pressure for an independent inquiry into the matter.

Anyone seeking assistance or support is encouraged to contact one of the following services; 

1800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732

Lifeline (24 hour crisis line): 131 114

Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636