Brittany Higgins: Linda Reynolds ‘deeply sorry’ for ‘lying cow’ comment

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has apologised to Brittany Higgins for referring to her as a ‘lying cow’ after her former staffer threatened legal action.

Linda Reynolds confirmed she received a letter from Brittany Higgins’ lawyers on Thursday afternoon. Picture: Getty

Scott Morrison says he would support a coronial inquest into the death of an Adelaide woman who alleged she was raped by Christian Porter more than 30 years ago and has “no doubt” the Attorney-General would co-operate if required.

The Prime Minister is standing by Mr Porter and insists the country “should be able to move on” after he identified himself as the cabinet minister at the centre of the historical rape allegation.

NSW Police said its investigation into the matter had been closed due to insufficient admissible evidence but there are mounting calls for there to be an independent inquiry, with Anthony Albanese saying “the nation requires a response”.

Mr Morrison declared he was “very confident” Mr Porter and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, who like the Attorney-General is on sick leave after facing intense scrutiny over her handling of the alleged rape of her former staffer Brittany Higgins in parliament, would return to cabinet.

Senator Reynolds on Friday apologised to Ms Higgins for referring to her as a “lying cow” after her former staffer threatened legal action.

“Minister Reynolds has offered an apology, as she should,” Mr Morrison said.

“I didn‘t find that acceptable, the comments that were made within her office at that time. They weren’t public statements, of course. These were comments made not in a public space. That doesn’t excuse them.

“Linda Reynolds is returning (as Defence Minister). She‘s currently on leave and will return to her duties when her leave is finished. She maintains my confidence.”

After rejecting an independent inquiry into the historical rape allegation against Mr Porter, Mr Morrison said the Attorney-General should be subject to the rule of law and a presumption of innocence now that the police investigation had concluded.

South Australian coroner David Whittle has not decided whether to hold an inquest into the alleged victim’s death, the cause and circumstances of which are being investigated by the state’s police.

“The issue as to whether there is a coronial inquiry in South Australia is entirely a matter for the South Australian Coroner,” Mr Morrison said.

“And if they chose to go ahead with that then of course, I would welcome that. But it would be highly inappropriate for me as Prime Minister or any other politician to interfere or intervene in a decision that a coroner should properly make about those issues.

“The coronial inquiry would be into the rather terrible events with the death by suicide of the woman at the centre of this. And if the coroner sought that then I have no doubt that the Attorney-General would co-operate with any coronial process.”

Reynolds says she’s ‘deeply sorry’

Senator Reynolds on Friday confirmed she received a letter from Ms Higgins’ lawyers and was in negotiations after they issued a legal demand for her to publicly withdraw the comments and apologise for the “malicious remarks”, first revealed in The Australian.

“A report in The Australian attributed some remarks to me regarding the very serious allegations made by my former staff member, Ms Brittany Higgins,” Senator Reynolds said on Friday.

“I have never questioned Ms Higgins‘ account of her alleged sexual assault and have always sought to respect her agency in this matter.

“In response to a letter from Ms Higgins‘ lawyers yesterday afternoon, discussions are now underway through our legal representatives in an effort to resolve this matter as soon as possible, with any resolution to include an apology.

“However, in the meantime, I want to express how deeply sorry I am for these remarks and for any hurt and distress they have caused.”

Senator Reynolds, who is on medical leave until next week, was publicly rebuked by Mr Morrison after The Australian revealed she had made the slur about Ms Higgins in front of staff members in an open part of the office on the day the ex-Liberal staffer went public about an alleged rape in Parliament House.

The Opposition Leader said the apology was “not enough” and Senator Reynolds should no longer be Defence Minister.

“I said yesterday ‘what do you have to do to lose your job under Scott Morrison’s government’? I find her position untenable,” he said. ”I think that it should be obvious to all.”

Kate Jenkins heads parliament review

The apology comes as Finance Minister Simon Birmingham announces Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins will lead an independent review into federal parliament’s workplace culture.

Senator Birmingham has been working on the terms of reference of the review with Labor, the Greens and other crossbenchers for the past three weeks since Ms Higgins’ rape allegation engulfed the Morrison government in turmoil.

Ms Higgins, who has spoken to Senator Birmingham to about the review, alleges she was raped by a former colleague in March 2019 in then defence industry minister Senator Reynolds’ parliamentary office.

Ms Jenkins will report by November this year.

“We have developed clear terms of reference that will give Kate every capability to hear the experiences of former and current parliamentary staff, former and current parliamentarians, those who have worked in the parliament and, in hearing those experiences, to consider how to change the culture, how to change the practices, and how to ensure that, in future, we do have the best possible environment for prevention and response to those instances,” Senator Birmingham said.

Porter’s position ‘tenable’

Senator Birmingham said Mr Porter, who has been accused of an historical rape dating back to 1988, said his colleague’s position in cabinet was tenable.

The allegations – made by a woman who decided not to make a formal complaint one day before taking her own life – have been vehemently denied by Mr Porter, who is on leave for his mental health.

Asked if the review would look into Ms Higgins’ allegations, which are being investigated by the Australian Federal Police, or the historical rape allegation against Mr Porter, Senator Birmingham said former staff and those who work in parliament will be able to make submissions but it would not be an “investigative” review.