Politics With Michelle Grattan

Christian Porter has unequivocally denied the historic rape allegations levelled against him, and says he is determined to stay in his job as attorney-general. Both Scott Morrison and Porter are adamant the "rule of law" in this country places the attorney-general beyond prosecution, now that the NSW police have closed the case. Porter is the country's first law officer and many argue that requires a stiffer test of suitability. This week UNSW professor of law Fleur Johns joins the podcast, to discuss the legal role of the attorney-general, how allegations of this kind can affect the performance of his duties, and the validity of the "rule of law" argument. The role of the office of the attorney-general is both one of "actual powers" and "a repository of great symbolic power," Johns says.  This symbolic power is compromised by "serious allegations that go to the ability of a person to exercise power over another person in a way that is responsible." "Allegations that are made of a serious abuse of power havin