Christian Porter Shared A Big Sooky Rant After His Long-Overdue Resignation

Christian Porter has resigned after failing to disclose the anonymous donations that helped pay for his personal legal case against the ABC, over historic sexual assault allegations.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday that Porter wasn’t able to “conclusively rule out a perceived conflict of interest” over his unknown donors, and therefore handed in his resignation effective immediately.

The former Industry and Science Minister, and previous Attorney General, will now move to the backbench after six years in cabinet. However, he’ll still re-contest his WA seat of Pearce at the next election as part of the Liberal Party, according to the ABC.

“I have previously stated my determination to contest the next election in Pearce and have nominated for preselection, and I have no intention of standing aside from my responsibilities to the people of Pearce,” said Porter.

In a 1600 word statement, Porter zeroed in on the media and “the Twitter version of an angry mob”, who he believes have come with after him with “constant abuse” since the national broadcaster first raised reports of an allegation from 33 years ago — all of which he denies.

“Some people wanted to help in that course by supporting my defamation case,” he said about the blind trust, who gave him money on the grounds of confidentiality. “On my request the Trustee provided me an assurance that none of the contributors were lobbyists or prohibited foreign entities.”

“No doubt the desire to avoid the inevitable fact that for supporting me, the trial by mob would inevitably turn on them if they were identified,” said Porter.

His lingering presence in Parliament is disappointing amid all the outrage, especially after his initial return to office in March after brief leave, when he came back to full pay and less duties. Despite claiming that his resignation as minister is to prevent a “very unhelpful distraction for the Government in its work”,  his continued pursuit of Pearce says otherwise.

“Porter has resigned from the front bench. He’s now a backbencher, still in Parliament. With pay. And all its protective privilege,” sexual assault survivor advocate Grace Tame said on Twitter.

“For the nation’s former highest law maker to claim ignorance of their financial aid is as insulting as Scott claiming ignorance of an alleged rape down the hall.”