Brittany Higgins: Gallagher, Wong ‘knew of rape claim’

Former defence minister Linda Reynolds claims Katy Gallagher and Penny Wong conceded to her that they knew about Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations before they were made public.

Minister for Finance Katy Gallagher is facing scrutiny over her relationship with Brittany Higgins.

Former defence minister Linda Reynolds claims now-Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and now-Foreign Minister Penny Wong conceded to her that they knew about Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations before they were made public, hours after Senator Gallagher told the Senate she had no prior knowledge of the ex-staffer’s story.

The Coalition will use parliament next week to ramp up pressure on Senator Gallagher over her knowledge of the rape allegation, as Anthony Albanese emphatically denies his minister misled the Senate.

Senator Gallagher came under intense scrutiny this week over when she was made aware of Ms Higgins’ allegation that she was raped in parliament in 2019, after text messages between Ms Higgins and her boyfriend David Sharaz suggested the senator was informed about the claim before it was made public.

The revelations called into question the evidence given by Senator Gallagher at a Senate ­estimates hearing in June 2021 – four months after Ms Higgins came forward with her allegation – that “no one had any knowledge” of the incident before the claim was publicly aired.

Senator Reynolds said on Friday Senator Gallagher conceded she knew both Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz in a meeting – also attended by Labor Senate leader Penny Wong and Liberal frontbencher Anne Ruston – held in the dinner break of that same hearing. “Penny did know about it ­before it went public – she said so at the meeting,” Senator Reynolds said.

The WA Liberal senator also claimed Senator Gallagher said Mr Sharaz had told her about the allegations going public “before it was going to happen”.

“After that incident I met outside with Senator Wong, Senator Gallagher and Senator Ruston,” Senator Reynolds told The Weekend Australian. “I explained what (late Labor senator) Kimberley Kitching had told me. Katy did confirm with me she knew both David and Brittany, and he had told what was going to happen before it happened.”

Senator Reynolds, who took notes of the meeting and will ­include them in a referral to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, said there was “quite a discussion as to where to next”.

“I accepted Penny Wong’s assurance she and Katy had no involvement in it (the claims) becoming public,” she said. “I repeated that in the Senate, but not making it public and not knowing are two very different things.”

A spokeswoman for Senator Wong said Senator Reynolds’ comments were disappointing. “Serious allegations were made by a Liberal staffer about a sexual ­assault in Linda Reynolds’ office,” she said. “Several Morrison government ministers were aware of the allegations and they still haven’t accounted for their ­actions.

“This matter was made public by a young woman who had the courage to come forward and tell her own story, on her own terms. It is disappointing Senator Reynolds fails to respect her decision.”

The Weekend Australian sought comment from Senator Gallager.

The Weekend Australian understands the Coalition is gearing up to make the issue the focus of question time when parliament returns next week, with some members calling for further ­action to be taken. Options open to the Coalition include demanding the attendance of the senator in the par­liament in order to give an explanation, or moving a censure motion against her. The opposition may also push for the matter to be referred to a Senate inquiry, although this would require crossbench support.

Independent Andrew Wilkie said he was “troubled” that Senator Gallagher might have misled parliament. “That’s the allegation that’s out there, and it’s a very serious allegation. Now I would hope, with parliament sitting in the next couple of weeks, that that can be explored in the parliament, and we can find the truth of the matter,” he told the ABC.

Liberal senator Gerard Rennick said he would lobby the Coalition team to back an inquiry into whether Senator Gallagher – who is also the Minister for Women – misled parliament.

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said the texts had brought into question the conduct of some Labor ministers as to “whether they chose to weaponise a rape allegation for political purposes”. “If it is the case that any ­politician was tipped off about this serious allegation, and then sought to obtain political ­advantage from it, I cannot see how they could remain a minister, let alone the Minister for Women,” Ms Ley said.

Mr Albanese rejected the claim Senator Gallagher misled parliament.