Finance Minister Katy Gallagher accused of misleading parliament on Brittany Higgins

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has been sensationally accused of misleading parliament about her knowledge of a 2021 interview on TV show The Project, during which former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins accused colleague Bruce Lehrmann of raping her in Parliament House.

Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash has sensationally raised the possibility that Finance Minister Katy Gallagher misled parliament after revelations were aired suggesting Senator Gallagher was aware of Brittany Higgins’ allegations against Bruce Lehrmann four days before she claimed to have had no advance knowledge of them in the Senate.

“Based on all the available evidence that has now been released, the big question is: Did Senator Gallagher mislead the Senate?” Ms Cash said.

The comments came amid growing controversy over the alleged co-ordinated media strategy that saw Ms Higgins level her claims on Network Ten’s The Project and on news.com.au.

It can be revealed that a senior government official had a 30-minute telephone meeting with The Project producer Angus Llewellyn to detail the ways in which Ms Higgins had been supported by a member of Linda Reynolds’ office but none of that material made it to air, it has been claimed.

The official said that during the call, which took place in the days before the show’s bombshell interview with Ms Higgins aired, he also provided evidence of text exchanges between Ms Higgins and Ms Reynolds’ chief-of-staff Fiona Brown, but that “none of it was acknowledged” in the interview that went to air in February 2021.

Finance Minister Senator Katy Gallagher. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Fiona’s case notes were impeccable in detail and showcased the care and support that Brittany was offered in the days following the alleged incident,” the source said.

“The Project was informed extensively about the level of care and support Brittany was showed by Fiona which was acknowledged in a warm text exchange … There was no nuance (from the show), there was no balance, she was slaughtered.”

According to this source, a WhatsApp message dated June 7, 2019, from Ms Higgins to Ms Brown was shown to producers that read: “Thank you! I wanted to say this in person but I cannot overstate how much I’ve valued your support and advice.

BRITTANY HIGGINS CASE: QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE ANSWERED

“You’ve been absolutely ­incredible and I’m so ­appreciative.”

The message, which was revealed during the criminal trial, was one of a number of pieces of evidence that suggest Ms Higgins was well supported by her former employers in the Morrison government.

Despite this, The Project only aired Ms Higgins’ claims that she felt like she had been poorly treated, isolated and had not been given a choice about where to be based in the wake of her allegations.

Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

However, it can also be revealed that on April 7, 2019, Ms Brown sent an SMS to Ms Higgins about ongoing work arrangements.

“Hi Brittany, hope you’ve had a good weekend!” Ms Brown wrote.

“As we discussed the other day you can let me know if something doesn’t work for you, eg a time to go to WA etc … if something doesn’t work for you make sure you let me know … I’m only a call away!”

In response, Ms Higgins wrote back saying, “Hi Fiona, Absolutely … Thank you for the message. Yes I figured as much and really appreciate it.”

Brittany Higgins with her mother Kelly Higgins (back) and partner David Sharaz during the trial. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The revelations raise further questions about the Commonwealth’s decision to pay a reported seven-figure settlement to Ms Higgins for damages sustained during her employment in Parliament House after a brief ­mediation.

They also cast a further spotlight on whether or not ­ Senator ­Gallagher misled the Senate when she said she had no knowledge of Ms Higgins’ allegations before they became public.

In June 2021, Ms Gallagher indignantly claimed that “no one had any knowledge, how dare you”, when Ms Reynolds said she had been tipped off by a Labor senator that the issue was going to be raised in Senate Estimates.

However, The Australian revealed text messages this week that suggested Senator Gallagher was told of The Project interview as many as four days before it aired.

On Thursday night, Sky News’ ­Sharri Markson revealed ­further text messages between Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz in which he told her Senator Gallagher was “really ­invested’’ in her claims – four days before they were made public.

Mr Sharaz texted Ms Higgins to say: “Katy [Gallagher] is going to come to me with some questions you need to prepare for … she’s really invested now haha.”

Last night, former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce said the bombshell allegations have the power to “sink the government’’, adding: “This is our Australian Watergate if ever I’ve seen one. If you’re taking the text messages on exactly what they say, then people were not being truthful.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said yesterday: “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.

“If the PM is unable to ­provide a complete and full explanation to the Australian public about the weaponisation of a rape allegation and potentially misleading statements by his minister then yes, this should be referred to the national anti-corruption commission.”