’Offensive’: Brittany Higgins blasts PM’s daughter remark during National Press Club address

Brittany Higgins has blasted Scott Morrison for his remarks about her rape allegation – and hit out at a lack of action.

Brittany Higgins speaks at the National Press Club. Picture: ABC

Brittany Higgins has blasted Prime Minister Scott Morrison over his comment last year that his wife Jenny helped him understand the seriousness of her rape allegations.

Former Australian of the year Grace Tame and ex-Liberal staffer Ms Higgins addressed a sold-out National Press Club on Wednesday in the wake of a national apology to victims of sexual abuse and harassment.

Mr Morrison wasn’t in attendance at the address but senior government ministers said he would be “paying attention” to what was said.

Brittany Higgins blasted the Prime Minister over the comment. Picture: ABC

During her address, Ms Higgins criticised Mr Morrison for a comment he made after she went public with allegations she was raped at Parliament House in 2019.

“Jenny and I spoke last night and she said to me, ‘you have to think about this as a father. What would you want to happen if it were our girls?’” Mr Morrison had said.

“Jenny has a way of clarifying things. Always has. And so, as I’ve reflected on that overnight and listened to Brittany and what she had to say.”

Ms Higgins said that sometimes the Prime Minister’s language had been “shocking and, at times, admittedly offensive” over the past year.

“But his words wouldn’t matter if his actions had measured up. Then, or since,” she said.

“What bothered me most about the whole ‘imagine if it were our daughters’ spiel wasn’t that he necessarily needed his wife’s advice to help contextualise my rape (allegations) in a way that mattered to him personally.

Brittany Higgins said she didn’t want words anymore, she wanted to see action. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gary Ramage

“I didn’t want his sympathy as a father, I wanted him to use his power as Prime Minister.

“I wanted him to wield the weight of his office and drive change in the party and our parliament, and out into the country.”

She said she wasn’t interested in words anymore and wanted to see action.

On Tuesday Australia’s political leaders formally apologised to anyone who had experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault or bullying while working in parliament.

Mr Morrison personally apologised to Ms Higgins after the bombshell review by Australia’s sex discrimination commissioner, Kate Jenkins, found one in three people interviewed had experienced some form of sexual harassment.

Ms Higgins said she wanted to “earnestly” thank the Prime Minister and other leaders.

“It was encouraging, and an important sentiment, but I am cognisant that, at this point in time, they are still only words,” she said.

“Task-forces are great. Codes of conduct are important. But only if it’s paired with institutional change.

“There are 28 recommendations in the Jenkins review and, without their implementation, we will continue to see this toxic culture exist within our most powerful institution.”