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Jodi McKay accused of signing letter of support to stop paedophile being deported

NSW Opposition Leader Jodi McKay signed a letter of a support to stop a convicted paedophile from being deported in 2018 after he was released from jail for sex crimes, according to legal documents.

The man, who is currently in immigration detention and cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for molesting a 13-year-old girl in Sydney.

The court heard he befriended the girl at Parramatta and Pendle Hill railway stations and committed the act in front of her six-year-old sister.

He had arrived in Australia from Sri Lanka in 2012, and was found guilty of the crime in 2016.

After he was released from jail he launched a legal case to be granted a visa to stay in Australia.

According to court documents, Ms McKay signed a letter of support for his case.

In it she asks the tribunal tasked with assessing the man's case to "consider the documents and circumstances when considering his application for a Bridging visa".

Ms McKay has denied it was a letter of support, claiming she was simply passing on documentation after a request from a constituent who met the man in Villawood Detention Centre.

In December 2014, the then-NSW Labor Leader John Robertson was forced to resign after he signed a letter on behalf of Sydney Siege terrorist Man Monis three years before the attack.

The letter was a call of support for Monis' request to visit his children despite an AVO currently out against him.

Man charged following multiple ram raids in Melbourne

A man has been charged following a ram raid burglary at a bike shop in Melbourne's west.

CCTV captured what appeared to be three men driving through the front windows of the store in Altona Meadows about 11.55pm on Saturday night.

They then loaded their vehicle with a number of expensive bikes before driving off.

READ MORE: Three arrested at anti-lockdown rally in Melbourne

The car allegedly involved in the ram raid was spotted by police overnight with two men inside.

A 26-year-old Drysdale man and 50-year-old Footscray man were both arrested and taken into police custody after the incident.

The Drysdale man has been charged with three counts of ram raid burglary at bike shops in Williamstown, Box Hill and Carnegie this month.

READ MORE: Woman dead, two children injured in Wandin North crash

He is also facing charges over cars stolen in West Footscray and Flemington, the burglary of a Tottenham bottle shop and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

The estimated worth of all the stolen items, including cars and bikes, is about $180,000.

The 26-year-old is expected to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court this evening, while the Footscray man was released pending enquiries.

PM says allegations of rape made by Liberal staffer are 'deeply distressing'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says allegations from young Liberal staffer that she was raped by a colleague at Parliament House are "deeply distressing".

Brittany Higgins told news.com.au she was just weeks into her dream job when she was allegedly raped in Defence Minister Linda Reynolds' ministerial office.

Ms Higgins was 24 when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by the colleague in the early hours of March 23, 2019.

Brittany Higgins on her first day working at Parliament House in Canberra.

Later, she would be invited to a meeting about the incident and asked to sit inside the very same ministerial office where she says she was assaulted.

A spokesperson for the government has confirmed that by March 26, 2019, senior staff in Senator Reynolds' office were aware of an incident.

"It was initially treated as a breach of the Statement of Standards for Ministerial Staff," a statement said.

"After further consultation with Ms Higgins over the following days, it became clear to senior staff that there were previously unknown elements of the incident that may be of a more serious nature."

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds was aware of the allegation and said Ms Higgins was offered ongoing support throughout.

The spokesperson said during the investigation into the incident, "Minister Reynolds and a senior staff member met with Ms Higgins in the Minister's office".

"Given the seriousness of the incident, consideration should have been made to the location of the meeting with Ms Higgins, and in hindsight that oversight is regretted," the spokesperson said.

Senator Reynolds told the Senate this afternoon she is "extremely concerned about the wellbeing of my former staff member".

"Women should be safe, and they should feel safe in the workplace at all times," she said.

Mr Morrison also addressed the allegations during Question Time today.

"My government takes all such matters – all matters of workplace safety – very, very seriously," Mr Morrison said.

"Everyone should feel safe in their workplace, wherever that is.

"Reports today are deeply distressing."

Mr Morrison and the government maintain Ms Higgins was supported throughout the entire process.

"The government has aimed to provide Ms Higgins with her agency, to provide support to make decisions in her interests and to respect her privacy," the prime minister said.

"This offer of support and assistance continues."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was asked about the alleged sexual assault during Question Time today.

Ms Higgins told news.com.au she felt as though she had to choose between reporting the incident or keeping her job.

On the night in question, a group of Liberal Party colleagues attended a work function together and Ms Higgins said she remembers the man allegedly responsible buying rounds of drinks.

At the time, she said, he was considered a "rising star" within the party.

Ms Higgins was allegedly sexually assaulted by a colleague in Defence Minister Linda Reynolds' ministerial office.

Eventually it was suggested she and the man share a ride home as they lived in a similar direction, however they ended up inside Parliament House.

The government has confirmed this and initially the incident was treated as a security breach in line with standards for ministerial staff given the pair were in Parliament House after hours.

Ms Higgins said she was signed in by a security officer and later in Senator Reynolds' office she felt sick, so she lay down on the couch. She said she woke up during the alleged sexual assault.

Ms Higgins said a parliamentary security guard found her, still in her cocktail dress, later that morning.

The man involved resigned a few days later, but this was in response to the security breach and not the alleged sexual assault.

Ms Higgins went on to work for Senator Michaelia Cash for two years, before resigning in January, saying she would be leaving Canberra.

ACT Policing today confirmed it received a report in April 2019 "in relation to an alleged assault at Parliament House".

"ACT Policing investigators subsequently spoke to the complainant who chose not to proceed with making a formal complaint,'' a police spokeswoman said.

"ACT Policing's investigation remains open but did not progress at that time as a result.

"As part of initial enquiries, ACT Policing also liaised with Department of Parliamentary Services."

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.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

Three arrested at Melbourne anti-lockdown rally

A group of anti-lockdown protesters have rallied in Melbourne today, with three men arrested.

Dozens of people came together at Eaton Mall in Oakleigh to defy the state's stage four lockdown in place until midnight on Wednesday.

The largely maskless group clashed with police and became vocal towards them, swearing and shouting.

"A 40-year-old Huntingdale man was released pending summons for breaching Chief Health Officer directions and failing to obey police direction," police said in a statement.

"Two men, aged 43 and 65, were issued with an infringement notice for breaching Chief Health Officer directions."

Earlier the Reignite Democracy Australia group posted the gathering to its Facebook page.

"We will not comply," the post read.

"Meet us here at 12pm today (Oakleigh)."

Victoria was placed into stage four lockdown on Friday and is expected to lift midnight Wednesday.

Under the restrictions, Victorians are only allowed to leave their homes for four reasons: shopping for essentials, giving care, essential work and education, and exercise for two hours per day with household members, an intimate partner or one other person only.