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The parents of a woman at the centre of a historical rape allegation against Attorney-General Christian Porter said they would support an inquiry into their daughter's death.

Mr Porter yesterday strenuously denied the allegations as he identified himself as the Cabinet minister at the centre of the claims made by a woman who died last year.

Releasing a statement via their lawyer, the parents of the deceased woman said any line of investigation that would shed light on the death of their daughter is welcomed.

"The family of the deceased continue to experience considerable grief arising from their loss," the statement reads.

"They are supportive of any inquiry which would potentially shed light on the circumstance surrounding the deceased's passing.

"They ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time."

READ MORE: NSW Police release details of dealings with Christian Porter's accuser

Earlier today Prime Minister Scott Morrison rejected calls for an independent inquiry into the historical rape allegations against Attorney-General Christian Porter, likening any such probe to a "mob process".

There have been calls for an independent probe to be held after NSW Police confirmed this week they had closed their investigation because of "insufficient admissible evidence".

READ MORE: Calls grow for independent review into historical rape allegations against Christian Porter

But Mr Morrison, speaking in the NSW Hunter region today, dismissed the suggestion.

He said it was a fundamental principle of a liberal democracy that the police were the relevant authority.

"I don't agree with the precedent or the prima facie case for there being such a process. Because that would say that our rule of law and our police are not competent to deal with these issues. And they are competent to deal with these issues," Mr Morrison said.

"They have reviewed the materials, and they've formed their assessment.

"There is not some other process. There is not the mob process. There is not the tribe-has-spoken process. That's not how we run the rule of law in Australia."

Mr Morrison said the rule of law must apply and that is guiding his response.

"The rule of law is essential for liberal democracies. And we weaken it at our great peril. And it can be hard at times," he said.

"And I understand, particularly under these circumstances, it can be hard to understand just how important that principle is in how we deal with these, the most sensitive and the most traumatic and the most personal of issues."

Mr Morrison said he spoke with Mr Porter after he addressed the media yesterday and looked forward to the attorney-general returning to Cabinet duties after he takes a short period of leave.

"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," he 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."

'Cloud hanging over' Porter, lawyer says

The lawyer for the woman at the centre of an historical rape allegation against Mr Porter has said a "cloud is hanging over" the Cabinet minister amid the calls for an independent inquiry.

The woman's lawyer Michael Bradley told Today an external and independent inquiry should not be ruled out by Mr Morrison.

"The prime minister has a choice, and that is either accept that this matter is closed, based on Mr Porter's denial of the allegation, and tell us all to move on and that's the end of it, or come to the view that the matter isn't closed because that question mark still remains, and therefore there needs to be a process to deal with it," he said.

"The whole point of a process like that is it gathers all the evidence that it can. It tests it, it weighs it up, then it reaches a determination. That determination may well be that he's exonerated."

Despite Mr Morrison saying the police were the relevant authority to investigate the matter, Mr Bradley said a parallel inquiry could also be held.

"The police deal with the criminal question, the criminal justice question. It's quite normal and conventional to have parallel processes," he said.

Mr Bradley pointed to sporting bodies such as the National Rugby League that have an integrity unit to investigate criminal allegations against players.

Mr Bradley also said a question mark will remain over Mr Porter's political future.

"I think it's obviously a difficult situation because he holds such a high office of public trust, and the allegation against him is so serious," he said.

"With that combination of factors it leaves a question mark, sort of a cloud hanging over him, which I don't think has been dispelled."

'Presumption of innocence': Frydenberg

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg today also rejected calls for an independent inquiry into the historical rape allegations levelled against Mr Porter.

Mr Frydenberg told Today that the police remained the authorised body to investigate the allegations and Mr Porter was entitled to a presumption of innocence.

NSW Police confirmed this week they had closed their investigation because of "insufficient admissible evidence".

"Christian Porter gave a lengthy statement yesterday, fronted the media, and made an emphatic denial of those allegations against him," Mr Frydenberg said.

"He's entitled to the presumption of innocence. We adhere to the rule of law.

"The police have looked at these matters and have said the case is closed."

Mr Frydenberg said the airing of the allegations had taken its toll on Mr Porter.

"These have been very distressing days in the Parliament, and I saw yesterday aspects of Christian Porter's press conference and you could see the anguish on his face, you could see the affect that it was having on him."

'Public deserves to know'

Independent MP Zali Steggall and Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy have joined calls for a transparent, independent inquiry into the historical rape allegations.

Ms Steggall told Today that Australians need transparency.

"I think the Australian public deserves to know exactly what is the case. What evidence is there?" she said.

"We have a situation where very sadly the alleged victim is no longer able to put forward her version of events."

Senator McCarthy said the independent inquiry would resolve "unanswered questions".

"There are so many questions that still remain unanswered and that's why the calls for an independent inquiry are really important," Senator McCarthy said.

If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.

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Brittany Higgins has responded to reports Defence Minister Linda Reynolds called her a "lying cow," saying it is evidence of the "toxic workplace culture" at Parliament House.

Ms Higgins, a former Liberal staffer, came forward last month with allegations she was raped in Senator Reynolds' office by a colleague in 2019.

Today, The Australian reported the defence minister, who is currently on medical leave, made the remark in front of staffers on the day Ms Higgins went public with her allegations.

LIVE UPDATES: PM rejects calls for Porter inquiry

"The comments made by Minister Reynolds are incredibly hurtful,'' Ms Higgins said in a statement.

"I appreciate that it has been a stressful time but that sort of behaviour and language is never excusable.

"It's just further evidence of the toxic workplace culture that exists behind closed doors in Parliament House."

Earlier, Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended Senator Reynolds saying she regrets the comments and the last few weeks had been "traumatic" for many people, resulting in high tensions.

"She has deeply regretted them, she made them in a private office," Mr Morrison said.

"She immediately apologised.

"She apologised to the staff about making what were inappropriate comments, long before it became public."

The prime minister said Ms Reynolds "deeply regrets" the "offensive remarks".

"They say things that sometimes they deeply regret," he said.

"I'm sure that all of you have found yourself, at a time of frustration, perhaps saying things you regret.

"And I would simply ask you, given the comment was made in a private place, that you offer the same generosity to how you perceive something you might have said, and perhaps apply the same standard to Linda Reynolds who, at the time, was under significant stress."

READ MORE: Brittany Higgins makes formal complaint to police

Mr Morrison condemned the remarks.

"She should never have made them," Mr Morrison said.

"I don't condone them, but what matters is that we continue to address the substance of the issues here, as we are."

In a statement sent out late last night, Senator Reynolds did not dispute using the term, but sought to clarify the context of her insult.

"I have never questioned Ms Higgins' account of her alleged sexual assault and have always sought to respect her agency in this matter," she said.

"I did however comment on news reports regarding surrounding circumstances that I felt had been misrepresented.

"I have consistently respected Ms Higgins' agency and privacy and said this is her story to tell and no one else's."

Senator Reynolds was hospitalised a week ago with a pre-existing medical condition after Ms Higgins came forward to say she had been raped in the Defence Minister's office in Parliament House.

She remains on sick leave.

Independent MP Zali Steggall said she was "shocked" to read the reports about Senator Reynolds.

"That's incredibly disappointing and inappropriate of Linda Reynolds and the minister should know better," she told Today.

"I think it makes her position all the more untenable."

The alleged sexual assault took place in March 2019 and Ms Higgins went public with her claim last month.

"Ms Higgins' allegations are very serious and that is how they must be treated to ensure her legal rights are protected," Senator Reynolds said.

"I welcome her decision to progress this matter with the Australian Federal Police."

Ms Higgins said she was raped by a senior Liberal staffer in Parliament House.

Another three women have made allegations against the unnamed man.

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Despite the Federal Government's ban on international travel, more than 11,000 Australians are getting permission to head overseas each month.

Data obtained by 9News under FOI laws reveals there 105,028 travel exemptions approved for people to leave Australia between March 25 and December 31, 2020.

Reasons include lengthy overseas trips, business travel and family matters.

READ MORE: New rules for domestic and international travel in response to UK strain

More than 40 per cent (43 per cent) of exempt travellers intended to depart from Sydney, followed by Melbourne (29 per cent), Brisbane (13 per cent) and Perth (9 per cent).

The most successful reason for an exemption was an intention to stay overseas for at least three months (51,793 exemptions approved), followed by compassionate and compelling grounds (31,091 exemptions approved).

Compassionate and compelling grounds included the death or serious illness of a close family member and parents travelling for surrogacy, adoption or picking up a child from overseas.

READ MORE: Thousands of Australians stranded as international border ban extended until June

Urgent and unavoidable personal business was the third largest category, with 11,686 exemptions granted, while critical industries and business travel secured another 8963 exemptions.

Urgent medical treatment not available in Australia (882 exemptions), response to the COVID-19 outbreak (438 exemptions) and national interest (175 exemptions) were the smallest categories.

Scientists have taken the first-ever photos of a glow-in-the-dark shark producing its own light.

The kitefin shark, Dalatias licha, is the world's largest known bioluminescent vertebrate, growing to nearly 1.8 metres in length.

It was found in an area of ocean known as Chatham Rise, off the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, according to a study published Tuesday by researchers from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in New Zealand.

Bioluminescence refers to the production of visible light by living organisms through a biochemical reaction.

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Some 57 of the 540 known shark species are thought to be capable of producing light, study co-author Jérôme Mallefet, head of the marine biology laboratory at UCLouvain, told CNN on Wednesday.

While specimens had previously shown that the kitefin shark should be capable of producing light, they are "really difficult to observe", as they live between 200 and 900 metres below the ocean's surface, Mallefet said.

Bioluminescence was also documented in two other species of deepwater shark, Etmopterus lucifer (the blackbelly lanternshark) and Etmopterus granulosus (southern lanternshark), as part of the research.

Mallefet noticed that the sharks had been caught accidentally during NIWA's trawling surveys, which are used to measure fish stocks, and contacted the organisation.

He was invited to join a survey trip in January 2020 and spent 30 days on board the boat, capturing multiple sharks.

"I was just like a kid at the bottom of a Christmas tree," said Mallefet, describing how he managed to take a picture of a kitefin shark in a bucket in a dark room on the ship.

READ MORE: Australia deadliest country in world for shark attacks in 2020

The deep sea below 200 metres is described as the twilight zone. Many people mistakenly believe there is no light visible there, but there is some light that the sharks find useful, Mallefet said.

"They use light to disappear," he said, explaining how bioluminescence can render the sharks invisible against the faint glow from the ocean's surface.

This protects the sharks from predators swimming below them, and also makes it easier for them to hunt prey, Mallefet said.

"We know that's the case for Dalatias licha," he said, as the remains of smaller sharks were found inside the bellies of some specimens despite the fact that the species is the slowest swimming shark in the world.

The luminous sharks haven't given up all of their secrets, however, including why their dorsal fin glows.

Further research is needed to work out whether this could be used for signaling, Mallefet said, adding: "There are still question marks."

Mallefet told CNN he would like to study the dorsal fin in greater detail on future trips to the area, as well as looking into what the sharks eat and whether they are eaten.

The aim is to find out more about the deep sea, which remains mysterious despite the fact that it's the most common environment on Earth, in order to make people think more about preserving it, he said.

"I fear that we have done a lot of mistakes throwing stuff in the sea," said Mallefet. "I fear what will happen for the next generations."