David Sharaz is a ‘puppet master’ set on destroying the Liberals: Bruce Lehrmann
Bruce Lehrmann claims David Sharaz orchestrated the release of rape allegations against him, and exploited Brittany Higgins’ ‘fame’ to engineer a campaign to support Labor.
Bruce Lehrmann has claimed Brittany Higgins’ partner David Sharaz is a “puppet master” who orchestrated the release of the rape allegations against him, and says he has exploited Ms Higgins’ “fame” to engineer a campaign to support Labor and topple the Liberals.
Mr Lehrmann’s scathing opinion of Mr Sharaz comes as leaked text messages reveal Mr Sharaz had used his connections with a former Labor media adviser to line up a job for Ms Higgins, following her resignation from the office of former attorney-general Michaelia Cash.
The Australian revealed on Thursday Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz planned to enlist the help of senior Labor MPs to pursue Ms Higgins’ rape allegation and her claim the Coalition government covered it up. Following those revelations, Mr Lehrmann claimed to The Australian that Mr Sharaz used his girlfriend’s rape allegations to “take down the Liberal Party in some respects”. “Then I think he’s probably now riding the wave of Higgins’s fame that he got,” Mr Lehrmann said.
Mr Lehrmann pointed to evidence given by senior AFP constable Emma Frizzell in the Sofronoff inquiry, that during a rest break in Ms Higgins’ first recorded police interview in March 2021, Mr Sharaz “entered the room and without concern for Ms Higgins’ welfare, commenced showing and discussing media coverage to Ms Higgins”.
“I believe the level of media involvement did affect the conduct of the investigation of Ms Higgins’ complaint,” Constable Frizzell said on May 26. “I believe it was a tool driven by Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz, which is evident by the first engagement I had with them, whereby Ms Higgins advised she wished to see how the media played out prior to providing a statement.”
Mr Lehrmann claimed Constable Frizzell’s evidence was indicative of Mr Sharaz “being the puppet master, essentially”.
“He just keeps injecting himself into it,” he said. “He’s just more worried about how best to spin it or sell it or drop something in the media.”
Mr Lehrmann accused Mr Sharaz of wishing to weaponise sexual assault to advance the Labor Party, describing him as a “class A typical political staffer”.
“(Seemed) clear that he was there to sell a message and that was the weaponisation of the sexual assault,” Mr Lehrmann said. “It wasn’t about me, it was about a bigger purpose, and clearly it was for the Labor Party. People need to follow the breadcrumbs. Take a deep breath, be pragmatic, and follow the breadcrumbs.”
Leaked messages obtained by The Australian revealed on a number of occasions Mr Sharaz asked Ms Higgins: “Are you getting spotted? Are people noticing you? Anyone recognise you?”
On March 16, 2021, about a month after Ms Higgins was interviewed by Lisa Wilkinson on The Project, Mr Sharaz texted Ms Higgins: “Don’t ditch me now you’re famous.” Minutes later he told her “we exude power”.
Mr Sharaz did not respond to The Australian’s request for comment.
Further leaked messages revealed Mr Sharaz secured Ms Higgins a job as media adviser with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria through his friend Emma Webster, a senior adviser to Finance Minister Katy Gallagher when she was ACT chief minister. Ms Webster previously worked as a top adviser for former prime minister Julia Gillard and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
In a message to Ms Higgins on January 1, 2021, he wrote: “Emma wants me to tell you that she’s about to advertise for a media adviser. It’s 80-90k and if you need a job for a short term to fill a void.”
He described the job as helping to “progress the Treaty”, as he celebrated the possibility of his “two favourite women” working together.
Sky News on Thursday night revealed more audio from the five hour long pre-interview between Lisa Wilkinson, Ms Higgins, Mr Sharaz and The Project producer Angus Llewelyn, in which the group laughed at the diversity of the Liberal Party. Wilkinson struggled to pronounce Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s name, as she said: “(The Liberal Party) has preselected over 20 new and wonderfully diverse and strong female candidates like, and what’s her name Jacinta (inaudible). She’s an Indigenous woman.”
Mr Sharaz laughed and said “well she clearly got in ... clearly it was a safe seat.”
Wilkinson: “That’s the thing. It was, and that was, as soon as I looked at it I thought, ‘oh, you’re joking’.”
Mr Sharaz: “It’s like, I’m not racist. I’ve got a black friend.”
Wilkinson: “And our cleaner’s black.”
More Coverage
Coffee when pregnant may be OK, study finds
Pregnant women are held to a stringent list of dietary guidelines, but one of the most common vices – coffee – may be safer than previously thought.
Read more
Chalmers dilutes mergers overhaul
The Treasurer’s decision follows industry concerns that the reforms were too complex, risked stifling investment and could kneecap deal-making activity.
Read more