The " Tall Poppy " Syndrome !

A finding of " No reasonable chance of a conviction " is certainly lesser than a " Not Guilty " reason for the Victorian police to drop a rape investigation, but at least it removes a danger that has been hanging over the head of Opposition leader Bill Shorten since he was elected to that position in October of last year.

A woman claimed that Shorten raped her at a Labor party youth camp at Geelong in 1986 - when she was sixteen and Bill Shorten was nineteen.  The claim emerged on social media and the police became involved when it progressed to a formal complaint.  Shorten admits that the complainant was " someone I knew briefly " but dismisses the sexual assault claim as " untrue and abhorrent ".

He bravely named himself as the person being investigated.   That was a wise move because it might otherwise have emerged as " breaking news " in the run up to the next election.   Better to have it sliced and diced in the media now and fully resolved than leave it to hang like the " Sword of Damocles " over his head.

Unfortunately,  like all our political leaders the " Tall Poppy Syndrome " applies.   There is every chance that other complainants may see this as their chance to get their fifteen minutes of fame - and it is very hard to put together a defence when it involves events from nearly thirty years ago.   Should a woman emerge with a similar rape claim the media would be certain to swarm all over her.   She would become an instant celebrity - featured on television news shows and probably offered big money for interviews.   The lure of  " fame " is simply irresistible to some people.

Considering people for high office now entails a ruthless scrutinising process.   It is necessary to delve deeply into their lives, almost from the time they first started in pre-school.   Even a misdemeanour that may have earned a mild reprove from a juvenile court may be trotted out to blacken the character - and the worst outcome is to deny something that later becomes proven fact.   We have seen that apply when a state premier was adamant about not receiving a bottle of wine - until his " thank you " note appeared.

Bill Shorten will certainly be holding his breath and waiting to see what eventuates from the publicity this matter has generated.  Such is the hazard of accepting high office in a divisive element such as politics.
It is a price that goes with the job.   The past and the present are subjected to the public spotlight - and it is like living one's life in a goldfish bowl.

The only compensation - is that the rewards are magnificent !