Justice in the internet age

After days of speculation, and mounting media and political pressure on the Prime Minister and his government to act on allegations that a current senior minister raped a young woman over thirty years ago, today that minister is going to out himself.

Presumably, he will express regret for the woman whom he allegedly assaulted taking her own life last year, but almost certainly he will strenuously deny any wrongdoing.

That the minister will out himself only after New South Wales police ruled out pursuing the matter further will be noted by his inquisitors in politics and the media, many of whom seem to have decided he is guilty simply because the allegations were made.

But while he will not be investigated, charged or…