BILL Shorten yesterday outed himself as the subject of a rape investigation, as police said the matter was closed and no charges would be laid.

The Opposition Leader took the extraordinary step of confirming he was the senior Labor figure who had been under investigation since November over allegations he had raped a 16-year-old girl at a Young Labor function in the 1980s.

Mr Shorten had always denied the claims and said he had decided to speak out after police said there was no reasonable chance of a conviction.

“I fully co-operated to clear my name,’’ he said.

“The allegation was untrue and abhorrent. There is absolutely no basis for the claim.’’

Mr Shorten’s wife Chloe joined him after his emotional press conference, where he said he would not be commenting into the future of any aspect of the claims.

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media_camera Mr Shorten said the claim had been “deeply distressing” for his family.

media_camera Mr Shorten, then 19, pictured with Bob Hawke in 1986.

“The allegation was made by someone I knew briefly at that time,’’ he said.

“I freely answered all questions the police asked of me.

“Now the police investigation has concluded, I can make this statement.

“This has been deeply distressing for my family.

“I am thankful for the love and support of Chloe, and the support of my staff and parliamentary colleagues.’’

The woman first made the claims on social media last year, then lodged a complaint with Victoria Police.

She alleged that Mr Shorten, then 19, had raped her in a bathroom while the pair were attending a function attended by Young Labor members at Portarlington, near Geelong, in 1986.

The woman, now living on the NSW South Coast, first posted the allegations on former PM Kevin Rudd’s Facebook page, but later lodged a complaint with Victoria Police.

Her complaint was made after Mr Shorten secured the job as Federal Opposition Leader.

Detectives from the sexual assault unit at Victoria Police interviewed Mr Shorten as part of the investigation.

While it was known in political circles that Mr Shorten was under investigation, his name was not widely known in the community.

His name was circulated on the internet in connection with the investigation but had not been reported by the mainstream media.

In a statement, Victoria Police said: “Investigating police sought advice from the Office of Public Prosecutions, which advised there was no reasonable prospect of conviction.”

“All parties have been notified.

media_camera Mr Shorten has thanked his wife, Chloe (pictured), and colleagues for their support.

“Victoria Police will not be proceeding with criminal charges.”

The woman has been speaking to media outlets and indicated she may speak out to express her unhappiness that police had decided no charges would be laid.

Mr Shorten said rather than take the “easy option’’ and avoid any public comments, he had made the decision to identify himself because the investigation was now complete.

“The claim has now been thoroughly and rigorously investigated by police, as is entirely proper,’’ he said.

“Others who were aware of the investigation have acted with the utmost integrity by leaving the police to do their job.

“The police have now concluded the investigation.

“The decision speaks for itself. It is over.’’