Since February and early March 2021, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Attorney-General Christian Porter had been criticised for their words and actions during a series of scandals that plagued the Morrison government. Reynolds had been criticised for the mishandling of a rape allegation and complaint by her staffer Brittany Higgins in 2019, while Porter had been accused of raping a 16-year-old when he was 17 in 1988. Reynolds and Porter subsequently took medical leave from 24 February and 4 March respectively, after which, foreign affairs minister Marise Payne was acting defence minister on behalf of Reynolds and employment minister Michaelia Cash was the acting Attorney-General and acting industrial relations minister on behalf of Porter. Peter Dutton was acting Leader of the House on behalf of Porter.
