Revealed: reasons behind Brittany Higgins’ $2.5 million payout
The reasons behind Brittany Higgins’ $2.5m secret payout have been revealed.
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The reasons behind Brittany Higgins’ $2.5m payout have been revealed.
The Australian on Thursday reported Ms Higgins claimed up to four decades of future economic loss in compensation from the government.
The newspaper revealed Ms Higgins’ draft statement of claim stated she was ‘successful and progressing in her career’ but her chances of advancing in politics had been ruined after allegedly being raped in Parliament House.
Former Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus declined to comment on Ms Higgins multi-million-dollar payout, which was awarded without the involvement of former senior Liberal ministers who were cited in her claim.
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Liberal senators Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash were among the commonwealth members who received the claim in March 2022.
“The claimant had a reasonable expectation of being promoted regularly and to eventually pursue her own political career, before suffering from the injuries and disabilities,” the document states.
It was stated that Higgins was found to be “medically unfit for any form of employment” and has a “very poor prognosis for future employment” due to the incident. As a result, she sought $2,521,314.40 in compensation for economic loss.
“The claimant further claims for the likelihood that she would have succeeded in either progressing in the public service, politics or in the private sector and would have been remunerated at increasing rates,” the draft claim reads.
Ms Higgins claimed an extra $400,000 in compensation because of “distress and humiliation” caused by Mr Morrison, Senator Cash and Senator Reynolds, the draft statement of claim revealed.
Senator Reynolds this month blasted the legal process that led to Higgins receiving the substantial compensation payout, saying there are “questions about the fairness, transparency and impartiality of the whole process.”
Ms Reynolds told The Daily Telegraph there were “serious issues” with the “swift” way Ms Higgins’ claim was settled after the Albanese government came to power.
She confirmed that she would refer the matter to the new National Anti-Corruption Commission, if no-one does so before her.
Last month Higgins announced a major life update as she settled down with longtime partner David Sharaz on the Gold Coast.
The former parliamentary staffer shared images of the couple’s new home on Instagram, saying that it was their “little piece of nirvana”.
“Home sweet home,” Ms Higgins captioned the post.
The move comes months after Ms Higgins settled her claim against the commonwealth and revelations she would be writing a book on her experiences.
Read more in The Australian
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