Ex-defence minister Linda Reynolds breaks her silence on the Brittany Higgins rape allegations: ‘It was a hit job’

In her first interview since being caught up in ‘the firestorm’ of the Brittany Higgins rape allegations, former minister Linda Reynolds says she was ‘expendable’.

In her first interview since being caught up in what she calls “the firestorm” of the Brittany Higgins rape allegations, former Liberal minister Linda Reynolds speaks exclusively to The Weekend Australian, accusing her political opponents of a “hit job” and saying she was “expendable”.

Nearly four years on from the night Bruce Lehrmann allegedly raped Ms Higgins on a couch in Senator Reynolds’s parliamentary office and almost exactly two years since Ms Higgins made her allegations public in the media, the former defence minister sits down with The Australian’s Janet Albrechtsen to tell her side of the story.

“I haven’t been able to speak for the last two years, obviously with the criminal trial and then the civil case underway. So much has been said about this political hit job, I think it’s important for me to tell my story,” Senator Reynolds says in the interviews to be published at the weekend.

Linda Reynolds in the Senate with colleague Michaelia Cash.

When Ms Higgins went public with her allegation that she was raped by Mr Lehrmann, she was highly critical of Senator Reynolds’ handling of the alleged assault, alleging the minister and her staff had failed to support her in the aftermath or properly investigate the incident.

Barred by the Albanese government from giving evidence in the multi-million dollar civil case successfully brought by Ms Higgins against the Commonwealth over its alleged failure to support her, Senator Reynolds is now keen to set the record straight.

“I’m a woman who has spent my life serving my nation in the parliament and in the army, but I was expendable,” she says.

Brittany Higgins with partner David Sharaz on holiday in the Maldives in January. Picture: Instagram

“Two years on my major reflection is a question I think for all Australians: what do you expect from your federal members of parliament?”

Senator Reynolds reveals the political machinations going on behind the scenes in parliament during that tumultuous period, and the personal toll the attacks have taken on her life and health.

Mr Lehrmann pleaded not guilty in the trial, which was later aborted because of juror misconduct. He has repeatedly stated his innocence.

READ THE FULL STORY IN THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN THIS SATURDAY