The ex-Liberal staffer was treated at Royal Perth Hospital amid a breakdown in mediation talks in a defamation case being brought against her by her former employer, Senator Linda Reynolds. Brittany Higgins’ former boss, Senator Linda Reynolds, has spoken out in the wake of the Federal Court’s defamation judgment against Bruce Lehrmann, saying it has finally “set the record straight” on allegations her office engaged in a cover-up.
In his judgment this week, Justice Michael Lee found that, on the balance of probabilities, “Mr Lehrmann raped” Ms Higgins at Parliament House.
Mr Lehrmann had brought the unsuccessful defamation action against Channel Ten and one of its hosts, Lisa Wilkinson.
The judgment also found that an allegation pushed by Ms Higgins and her partner, David Sharaz, claiming there had been a cover-up of the rape allegation, was “objectively short on facts, but long on speculation and internal inconsistencies”.
“Trying to particularise it during the evidence was like trying to grab a column of smoke,” Justice Lee wrote.
Brittany Higgins. Picture: Colin Murty Brittany Higgins. Picture: Colin Murty On Tuesday night, Ms Reynolds – who was defence minister at the time of the rape – claimed vindication for both herself and her former chief of staff, Fiona Brown.
“For three years I have endured intense public scrutiny, vilification, vile trolling and have been demonised as the villain in a story of a political cover-up I have always known to be untrue,” she told The Australian.
“Fiona Brown and I have lost our careers, had our reputations destroyed and have had our health seriously and irreparably compromised.
“The decision of His Honour Justice Lee has finally set the record straight with respect to the conduct of Ms Brown and myself and the demonstrably false narrative that has dominated headlines and ruined lives and careers.
“To say I am pleased with the findings in relation to Ms Brown, myself and the cover-up that never was would be an understatement.”
Ms Reynolds is currently suing Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz for defamation in the WA Supreme Court. The matter is expected to go to trial later in the year.
While stressing that she wished to make no further comment, Ms Reynolds noted that “as a matter of law”, Justice Lee’s findings were “not binding on Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz in respect to their defences” in that case.
“I remain committed to fully vindicating my reputation,” the Senator said.
Too bad for Higgjns Justice Lee didn't have the courage to after the big dogs.
And what, they didn't know these blokes are pacy? They didn't know Keays was going to kick 3 or 4? They didn't know Walker knows a thing or two about playing FF and kicking straight? Shame on them because I'm a dumb ass and I knew all the above.
It wasn't just pace. There was one where Newman stopped running after his man thinking the ball was going out but it didn't and his man ended up setting up a goal.
We lost a bit of focus and didn't respect them as much as we should.
First Crack showed Rankine going into the middle and stood on Cripps. Crows won the ball, Rankine pushed forward and got away from our captain who was right on his tail but too slow to stop him.
Next time Hewett picked him up but then just let Rankine go by himself inside 50.
I'm not blaming forwards and have spent a lot of time pointing out the good that is often missed by them.
However, when we have 3 of them who had 2 tackles between them, and were lower half of the pressure acts each.....you gotta start asking some questions.
If Motlop, Martin, Cunningham or Fogarty were available then they would be playing but they're not.
Our defenders didn't pay them enough respect. Weitering was giving Walker way too much space, if Adelaide were a better team hevwould have kicked 7 or 8.