Brittany Higgins alleged rape a ‘wake-up’ call: Scott Morrison

Former Liberal party staffer Brittany Higgins says the case of her alleged rape needs to be a catalyst for change in Parliament House.

A Liberal staffer who was allegedly raped in Parliament has welcomed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s review of the workplace culture and called on him to establish an independent process for staff to raise complaints.
Former media adviser Brittany Higgins, who alleges she was raped on a couch in the office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in 2019, thanked Mr Morrison for his apology for how her case was handled.

“I note the apology from the Prime Minister in the media this morning and thank him for this,” she said in a statement.

“The Prime Minister’s announcement of an investigation into the culture in Parliament House is a welcomed first-step, though it is long overdue.”

Former Liberal Party staffer Brittany.

Scott Morrison on Tuesday. Picture: Diego Fedele

Ms Higgins said it should not have taken her sharing her story publicly for members of parliament to “take action on workplace sexual harassment, assault or bullying”.

“A clear path forward is now required – and that includes a comprehensive review to the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act to ensure adequate protections for staff,” she said.

“There needs to be an independent reporting mechanism for staff where they can confidently and safely make complaints – similar to processes in many other workplaces in Australia and abroad.”

Ms Higgins said it was not only an issue for the Liberal Party.

“Political parties also need to conduct their own internal reviews and establish formal accountability processes. As we all know, this isn’t a problem confined to one side of politics,’’ she said.

“Finally, everyone should feel safe to report sexual assault without fear of losing their job. These incidents shouldn’t have to play out in the media for change to happen.

“I would like to extend my gratitude to those who have sent messages of support during this time. I ask for my privacy to now be respected as I begin to emotionally recover from this difficult period and wish to make no further comment.”

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has “unreservedly apologised” to Ms Higgins.

Ms Reynolds told Question Time on Tuesday she had aimed to “empower Brittany” at all times, but after hearing her former staffer’s detailed account of the trauma it was clear not enough had been done.

“I deeply, deeply regret conducting the meeting in my office where the alleged incident occurred,” she said.

Ms Reynolds confirmed the alleged perpetrator of the rape had been “terminated” from her office.

Asked by Labor if Ms Reynolds or anyone in her office had given the alleged perpetrator any support or recommendation to get a new job, the Minister said she would take it on notice to gain advice on how much she could say about the termination.

It comes as Mr Morrison said he had made sure Ms Reynolds and others “know” he was not happy Ms Higgins’ allegation was concealed from him for two years.
Mr Morrison revealed he reflected overnight on the case of former media adviser and decided more must be done to “address the environment” of parliament.

Ms Higgins with the Prime Minister.

“We have to do more, whether it’s in this workplace or any other workplace in the country, to ensure that people can work safely in their place,” he said.

Mr Morrison said he spoke about Ms Higgins’ case with his wife Jenny, who had urged him to consider the matter in the context of his own daughters.

“Not her doing.”

Asked if he would apologise to Ms Higgins for the fact a formal employment meeting following the incident was held in the same room she was allegedly raped in, Mr Morrison said he would “happily” do so.

“That should not have happened,” he said. “I do apologise.”

He also expressed his horror at learning that Ms Higgins was on the verge of panic attacks each time she walked into parliament to do what she had thought would be her “dream job”.

“That is tremendously upsetting,” he said.

He revealed Curtin MP Celia Hammond, who has previous experience as a Vice Chancellor of Notre Dame University, would “lead a process” to identify ways ”standards” and ”expectations” can be further improved.

He revealed Curtin MP Celia Hammond, who has previous experience as a Vice Chancellor of Notre Dame University, would “lead a process” to identify ways ”standards” and ”expectations” can be further improved.

Mr Morrison also invited Labor leader Anthony Albanese to join in with the process.

Ms Higgins was 24-years-old when the alleged incident took place on March 23, 2019, just weeks before the last federal election was called.

After an evening drinking with colleagues, Ms Higgins, who was then just four weeks into her new job working for Ms Reynolds, alleges she was sexually assaulted in the minister’s office by another Liberal staffer.

Ms Higgins told news.com.au the pair had agreed to share a taxi home from the event as they lived in the same direction, but instead he took her to Parliament House.

After arriving in Ms Reynolds’ office, Ms Higgins said she began to feel unwell, and lay down on the couch.

She alleges she later woke up to the Liberal staffer having sex with her.

“I told him to stop,” she said.

“I was crying the whole way through it.”

Ms Higgins with Senator Michaelia Cash.

Ms Higgins said the man left her there, but she did not exit parliament until the next morning, still wearing her cocktail dress from the evening before.

Ms Higgins said she “barely” remembered the conversation as the meeting took place in the same room she was allegedly raped.

At a second meeting Ms Higgins disclosed her alleged assault, and later reported the matter to the AFP though did not pursue the matter further at the time.

Ms Higgins said she felt her colleagues did not care about her.

“It’s devastating and it’s soul destroying and I think about it every day but the only thing that I know that made everyone else care about it was (where it happened) and who it was connected to,” she said.

“It wasn’t for concern over me, and that was really impressed upon me, like this was a political issue and this wasn’t something to be shared.”