Publisher halts Ego book that details Brittany Higgins’ claims of sexual assault

A newly-released book detailing allegations made by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has been halted amid concerns it could impact an upcoming trial.

Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gary Ramage

Publication of a newly-released book which details the events surrounding Brittany Higgins’ allegations of sexual assault inside Parliament House has been stopped amid the upcoming court trial involving the former Liberal staffer.

Harper Collins, the publisher of Ego, written by Australian Financial Review journalist Aaron Patrick, has ceased further supply of the 324-page book that hit bookshelves and online stores just two weeks ago.

A spokesman from the book publishing company confirmed the immediate stop to further distribution of the book following the pending criminal trial.

“HarperCollins has temporarily paused supply until resolution of an upcoming criminal trial,” he said in a written statement.

Despite this on Friday afternoon the book was still available for purchase from numerous bookstores, shops and online sites including Angus & Robertson, Booktopia and Big W.

The criminal trial was due to start in the ACT Supreme Court last month but was delayed until October after it was derailed following a speech given at the Logies on June 19 by Network Ten’s co-host Lisa Wilkinson.

She made comments about Higgins' allegations just days out from the criminal trial starting.

Consequently Chief Justice Lucy McCallum stayed the accused man Bruce Lehrmann’s trial, after Wilkinson made remarks about the allegations after winning the award for the story for the most outstanding news coverage or public affairs report for her interview that aired on The Project in January 2021.

During the TV interview Ms Higgins did with Wilkinson, she detailed the alleged rape by a former colleague on the night of March 22, 2019.

Justice McCallum said Wilkinson’s speech at the Logies had “completely obliterated” the line between allegation and guilt.

Patrick’s book details the accounts of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s campaign against Scott Morrison and many recent controversies that plagued the former Coalition government including the Higgins saga.

Ego, written by journalist Aaron Patrick.

In the book, which was released on June 15, a chapter was dedicated to the allegations made by Ms Higgins that she was allegedly raped inside a minister’s office in Parliament House three years ago.

Mr Lehrmann’s legal team last year said the ex-Liberal staffer “absolutely and unequivocally denies any form of sexual activity took place”.

Patrick said he was “disappointed” the book supply had been halted.

“I am disappointed given the sales numbers were going extremely well for the book,” he said.

“I don’t believe the book would have had any impact on this case given it’s been thoroughly vetted before it was published.”

The Australian last month reported that several other book deals could be impacted by delay of the criminal trial, including a book by Higgins, for which she will be paid about $250,000.

The deal was brokered by Wilkinson’s husband, Sydney Morning Herald journalist Peter FitzSimons.

Latest Nielsen BookScan 2022 figures showed in the first 10 days of Ego being available for purchase, about 1150 copies had been sold.