Labor heavyweights face probe over explosive Higgins’ texts

Leaked texts between Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz have led to renewed calls for an investigation into the relationship between the pair and senior Labor figures.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has told 2GB’s Ray Hadley that Anthony Albanese must “be honest” about his involvement with Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz and their attempts to enlist the help of “friendy” Labor MPs to attack the Morrison government.

“The Prime Minister obviously has to front up and provide a true factual explanation of what’s going on here because there are different accounts,” Mr Dutton said.

“The conspiring that took place and it just seems to me that on all the evidence that’s available at the moment, we’ve got very senior figures within the Albanese government that have a lot of answers to provide.”

The comments came after leaked texts between Higgins and Sharaz led to renewed calls for an investigation into the relationship between the pair and senior Labor figures including the prime minister.

Previously unseen messages reported Wednesday night by The Australian newspaper appeared to show Higgins and Sharaz plotting to engage senior Labor MPs to press Ms Higgins’ allegations that she was sexually assaulted in Parliament House as well as to drive attacks against then-prime minister Scott Morrison.

The messages paint a picture of a concerted attempt by Mr Sharaz and Ms Higgins to develop a strategy to shape media coverage with the help of sympathetic Labor MPs and senators.

Among the revelations include texts that indicate Mr Sharaz claimed to be in contact with Mr Albanese, who at the time was leader of the opposition, as well as shadow environment minister Tanya Plibersek.

Brittany Higgins with partner David Sharaz. Picture: Instagram

On April 16, 2021 Mr Sharaz texted Ms Higgins: “So Albo gave me his number – he just came in to do the breakfast show – and says if you meet with Scomo to let him know and he’ll fly to Canberra to be there if you want to meet with him too.”

“For sure. I have no qualms meeting with Albo,” Ms Higgins replied.

Six days later, Mr Sharaz texted Ms Higgins, “Friday 9am with Albo locked in at CPO. Details to come … Tanya too.”

The messages also show Mr Sharaz appearing to pursue a personal vendetta against Scott Morrison, writing at one point, “I still hate the c...”.

Texts also show Mr Sharaz boasting of his relationship with Katy Gallagher, now the finance minister.

“Katy is going to come to me with some questions you need to prepare for … She’s really invested now ha ha,” Mr Sharaz texted Ms Higgins.

Facing questions.... Tanya Plibersek and the

PM Anthony Albanese.

“She’s an old friend. We opened a chair together! So you can trust her,” he wrote later.

Ms Gallagher also appeared to have been enlisted in an effort to attack Mr Morrison’s office for allegedly “backgrounding” against Ms Higgins, or spreading disparaging stories with friendly journalists.

“At least get Katy to ask about it in estimates,” Mr Sharaz suggests in one text.

“You may as well feed everything you have to Katy,” Ms Higgins said.

Leaked texts suggest Finance Minister Katy Gallagher was aware of the Brittany Higgins rape allegation before the story broke.

“The sooner we can nip it in the bud the better. Especially if we can call them out by name.”

Both Mr Albanese and Ms Plibersek denied any collusion with the Higgins camp when asked earlier this week, with the prime minister telling this masthead simply “no” when asked if he or his office had colluded with anyone associated with Ms Higgins.

Former defence minister Linda Reynolds, who employed Ms Higgins at the time of the alleged assault, has previously said she believed Labor had sought to “weaponise” the case.

Ms Reynolds has separately revealed that she is considering referring a compensation payment made to Ms Higgins to the new federal anti-corruption body after revelations that a settlement was reached before a civil claim was even filed.