Brittany Higgins drops defamation appeal against former boss, paving way for bankruptcy

Brittany Higgins has dropped her appeal against her one-time boss and former Liberal senator Linda Reynolds’ defamation win in Western Australia’s Supreme Court.

Higgins and her partner David Sharaz were ordered to pay upwards of $341,000 and likely more than $1 million in legal costs to Reynolds after they were found to have defamed her in social media posts.

WA Senator Linda Reynolds (right) and former staffer Brittany Higgins (centre) with Ms Higgins’ husband, David Sharaz.Credit: Composite image by Aresna Villanueva

Higgins and Sharaz alleged Reynolds and her office had orchestrated to “cover up” the rape of Higgins by colleague and parliamentary staffer Bruce Lehrmann at Parliament House in 2019.

While separate civil court proceedings determined on the balance of probabilities Lehrmann had raped Higgins, WA’s Supreme Court found in August there was no evidence Reynolds or her office had attempted any type of cover up of the incident.

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Instead, Justice Paul Tottle found Reynolds and her staff had been appropriately supportive of Higgins following the rape.

Following the finding, Reynolds launched bankruptcy proceedings against Higgins and Sharaz, after it became apparent the total costs owed to her would exceed their ability to pay.

Higgins said she intended to appeal Tottle’s decision in September, but filed a notice to discontinue the proceedings on Monday.

This means Reynolds is free to pursue Higgins and Sharaz for bankruptcy, and Tottle’s final determination stands.

Brittany Higgins shared her own post on Instagram after the verdict.Credit: Instagram

Higgins’ decision to drop the appeal comes just one week after Reynolds signalled her intention to seek a parliamentary inquiry into the conduct of “Labor members and senators” she said weaponised Higgins’ rape case against the Liberal party.

“The conflation and unchecked political weaponisation by Labor of Ms Higgins’ criminal and civil allegations under the cover of parliamentary privilege significantly contributed to the creation of one of the largest and longest political scandals in our nation’s history,” she said.

“A scandal based on workplace allegations that were untrue.

“While no one can undo the extensive damage this scandal has done, I hope that sufficient time has now passed for the parliament to be willing and able to objectively and honestly review these events and implement meaningful, effective and just reforms.

“While the Labor government shows no sign of contrition and continues to fight, it is not too late for the Parliament to do the right thing. So this can never happen again. I have taken this action in an attempt to ensure that on one [sic] else is treated this way.”

Following the conclusion of the defamation proceedings in August, Higgins released her own statement and said she was grateful the matter had reached a conclusion.

Lehrmann denies raping Higgins.

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