Lisa Wilkinson denies briefing politicians about Brittany Higgins’ allegations

Anthony Albanese referenced allegations of rape made by Brittany Higgins during question time at least 20-times after the story broke but Lisa Wilkinson denied briefing politicians.

Lisa Wilkinson and Brittany Higgins.

Anthony Albanese referenced allegations of rape made by Brittany Higgins in question time at least 20 times in the two months after the story broke but Lisa Wilkinson denies briefing politicians to promote her interview with the former Liberal staffer.

Wilkinson on Monday said she had never spoken to any politician about the story following revelations she, Ms Higgins and Ms Higgins’ partner, David Sharaz, war-gamed recruiting politicians to ask questions in question time over a five-hour brainstorming session just weeks before the story broke on February 15, 2021.

Brittany Higgins’ partner David Sharaz. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

In recorded audio of the meeting on January 27, 2021, Ms Higgins told Wilkinson she could find some “friendly MPs” who could fire questions in question time.

Wilkinson told The Australian on Monday she did not approach Mr Albanese or other politicians about raising the allegations in question time. “Nor did I speak to any other politicians, their minders or apparatchiks,” she said.

Mr Albanese, then opposition leader, made reference to the allegations at least 20 times during question time in February and March 2021 while then deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek asked at least 14 questions about the allegations, according to The Australian’s analysis of Hansard.

Defence Minister Richard Marles, Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney, Aged Care Minister Anika Wells, Housing Minister Julie Collins, Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor and Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil, in opposition, also asked questions relating to the allegations in question time. Most were directed at then prime minister Scott Morrison and concerned the allegations against former parliamentary staffer Bruce Lehrmann, the handling of Ms Higgins’ complaint and the Gaetjens inquiry, which investigated who in the office of the prime minister knew about the alleged rape, and what they knew.

Mr O’Connor denied Ms Higgins or Mr Sharaz asked him to comment. The other ministers did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.

Coalition senator Linda Reynolds, who has been subjected to sustained attacks from Labor over the alleged assault between her former staffers, said Labor had exploited the #MeToo movement as a political weapon.

“There is no doubt in my mind what happened to me in the chamber, the systematic attacks and bullying, was designed to exploit the #MeToo movement as a political weapon against the Morrison government – and it succeeded,” Senator Reynolds said. “This behaviour, which I am still subject to by Labor in the Senate, would not be acceptable in any other workplace outside of parliament.

Senator Linda Reynolds. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“If we truly aspire to setting the standard nationally and encourage more women to enter parliament this behaviour has to be called out and stopped once and for all.”

Ms Higgins alleged her then colleague, Mr Lehrmann, raped her on the couch in the ministerial office of Senator Reynolds, then the boss of both, in the early hours of March 23, 2019, after a night out drinking with ­colleagues.

University of Technology Sydney Centre for Media Transition co-director Monica Attard said it wasn’t unusual for a journalist and a subject to discuss the potential impact of a story but a journalist “strategising” with a source implied a shared interest.

“Also, if a journalist ‘strategises’ with the subject of a story, there is an uncomfortable assumption that the journalist has already determined that the source’s information is correct,” she said.

“This may breach the rules around impartiality, fairness and accuracy unless research has already been done and provided cogent evidence that the subject’s story is true.”

The Australian approached Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz for comment.