‘Had enough’: Linda Reynolds threatens defamation over former staffer Brittany Higgins’ Instagram post

Liberal senator Linda Reynolds has issued her former staffer Brittany Higgins with a legal threat, saying she has “had enough” of defamatory social media posts and abuse.

Former Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has threatened her former staffer Brittany Higgins with defamation action over a social media post.

On Thursday afternoon, Ms Higgins shared a brief message on her social media channels saying she’d received a concerns notice from Senator Linda Reynolds.

“I’ve just received a concerns notice from @lindareynoldswa threatening defamation over an Instagram story,” she wrote.

“I’m considering my legal options.”

I’ve just received a concerns notice from @lindareynoldswa threatening defamation over an Instagram story.

I’m considering my legal options.

— Brittany Higgins (@BrittHiggins_) July 6, 2023

Ms Higgins said she had received a concerns notice from Ms Reynolds. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

In a statement, Ms Reynolds said she will “not tolerate” being defamed by Ms Higgins or anyone else.

“Yesterday my lawyers sent a concerns notice to Ms Brittany Higgins. That was a private communication, which she has chosen to make public,” she said.

“Ever since Ms Higgins first made her allegations of rape public, I have been the target of unwarranted criticism and abuse.

“Despite her repeated defamation of my character, until now I have not taken any action against her personally... Yesterday Ms Higgins made yet another defamatory post about me. I have had enough.”

A concerns notice is a legal requirement prior to commencing a defamation lawsuit, provided to inform the publisher of the defamatory imputations.

The circumstances surrounding Ms Higgins post are unclear, but come after she shared an Instagram Story on Tuesday highlighting Ms Reynolds’ comments about referring Ms Higgins’ personal injury claim to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

The day prior, Ms Reynolds had confirmed she still intended to refer the Commonwealth’s settlement with Ms Higgins to the newly-established integrity body.

Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds has threatened to take legal action against Ms Higgins. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The headlines included a story about Ms Reynolds indicating she would refer Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to the Commission over the compensation payment given to Ms Higgins in the wake of her rape allegations.

“This is from a current Australian senator,” Ms Higgins wrote.

“This has been going on for years now. It is time to stop.”

Ms Higgins settled a personal injury claim against the government for an undisclosed amount in December, relating to allegations she was raped in Ms Reynolds office by fellow Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann.

A trial against Mr Lehrmann was aborted following juror misconduct, and the charges were subsequently dropped.

“The basis for the settlement and the reasons why the Attorney-General barred me and Senator (Michaelia) Cash from defending serious allegations against us have not been explained to us or to the Australian people,” Ms Reynolds told The Australian this week.

Senator Reynolds has been approached for comment.

Originally published as ‘Had enough’: Linda Reynolds threatens defamation over former staffer Brittany Higgins’ Instagram post