An Australian MP raped a woman on a velvet couch in his office during a late-night tour of parliament, a court has heard.

Theo Theophanous, a former cabinet minister in the Victorian parliament, is charged with raping the woman in 1998.

At a committal hearing today, Melbourne Magistrate's Court was told Mr Theophanous, 61, knew the woman socially through mutual friends in Melbourne's Greek community.

The former Minister of Industry for Victoria invited the woman, who was then 34, on a tour of Parliament House after they had a drink together late one evening.

He assured her that there was good security in the building, and a lot of people would be working late.

Prosecutor Michele Williams SC said the pair entered Parliament through a side door which led to a dimly-lit hallway.

Mr Theophanous then tried to lead the woman into a dimly lit amphitheatre but she resisted, the court heard.

Ms Williams said the woman, feeling scared, asked to go to the bathroom and was taken to a toilet near Mr Theophanous' parliamentary chambers.

While in the bathroom she called several friends on her mobile phone to say she felt scared, the court heard.

The pair ended up in Mr Theophanous' chambers where, despite the woman saying she felt uncomfortable, the MP told her; "Come to me, I want a hug''. He then pushed her onto his red velvet couch and raping her, with his hand over her face and throat, the court heard.

The rape ended when the woman's mobile phone rang and she spoke on the phone to her friend.

As the pair left Parliament, Mr Theophanous allegedly told the woman: ``What I like about you is that you are loyal," the court was told.

Ms Williams said the woman did not go to police because she believed that Mr Theophanous was threatening her, including saying that he would cut off her parents' pension and make her brother do army service in Greece.

"The complainant did not report the matter to the police because of the position and status of the defendant," Ms Williams said.

The court heard she later went to a solicitor and then police to report the matter.

Mr Theophanous' lawyer Robert Richter, QC, described the woman as manipulative and a fabricator of stories.

He said the woman initially said the rape was in the year 2000 and had told 17 versions of the rape story to police.

The woman was motivated by spite and was a self-confessed drug addict, he said.

The hearing continues.

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