Linda Reynolds: I haven’t received one cent after defamation case win against Brittany Higgins
Linda Reynolds is not giving up the fight to receive a defamation payout of more than $1m from her former staffer Brittany Higgins, who claimed the former senator covered up her alleged rape by Bruce Lehrmann.
Former Coalition defence minister Linda Reynolds has claimed she has not yet been paid “a single cent” in damages following a successful defamation case against her former staffer Brittany Higgins.
The former senator said on Tuesday night she was not giving up the fight to receive a defamation payout of more than $1m from Ms Higgins.
A Federal Court judge found that the former staffer, on the balance of probabilities, was raped by Bruce Lehrmann in Senator Reynolds’ parliamentary office. But two judges have concluded that claims Ms Reynolds and her staff covered up the affair, which were pursued by senior Labor ministers Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher in parliament, were unsubstantiated.
Ms Reynolds successfully sued Ms Higgins and her husband David Sharaz over the cover-up claims in the West Australian Supreme Court.
“It’s very clear in (the Federal Court’s) judgment that I was pursuing the truth,” Ms Reynolds told ABC’s 7.30.
“Ms Higgins could have settled with an apology … it would have cost both parties a few thousand dollars. It could have been over, but she didn’t (settle).”
Ms Reynolds said she was also hoping to win damages from the commonwealth, in a separate case over the handling of Ms Higgins’ $2.4m settlement with the commonwealth over the rape.
“Justice is not cheap, and because I was forced to take action to defend my reputation ... it’s been hellishly expensive for me to seek justice through the civil courts.”
“Five years ago almost to the day, my life was completely destroyed. My reputation, my career and my health. No one can undo that.”
Ms Reynolds said former prime minister Scott Morrison “helped save my life” when she collapsed in the Senate chamber in February 2021, as she was questioned about her handling of Ms Higgins’ allegations that she was raped in Parliament House.
“Scott was amazing with me when Labor broke me and for the whole world to see. When I collapsed in the chamber, he rushed over (and) sat with me for an hour while I was sobbing uncontrollably,” Ms Reynolds told the ABC’s 7.30.
“He actually, in a funny way, helped save my life because many of my colleagues were undermining me because I wanted the Defence portfolio.”
Ms Reynolds admitted the fight is not over, as she tries to seek damages and an apology from the commonwealth.
“I either had to fall over and just let these lies carry me away, or I stood up and fought for the truth and for justice, for me and for everybody else who’s been so damaged by these lies,” Ms Reynolds said.
“(The fight) will (continue), until the bitter end.”
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