Brittany Higgins meets Scott Morrison: ‘he acknowledged the system had let me down’

Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has spoken of her meeting with Scott Morrison following rape claim.

Brittany Higgins, left, in Sydney with ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner Heidi Yates for a meeting with Scott Morrison. Picture: Damian Shaw

Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, who was allegedly raped by a colleague at Parliament House, says Scott Morrison acknowledged “the system let me down” as she demands changes to laws protecting federal political advisers.

Ms Higgins met with the Prime Minister on Friday for the first time since publicly claiming she was sexually assaulted in March 2019 in then defence industry minister Linda Reynolds’ office following a night out drinking with her peers.

She said it was a difficult conversation to have.

The 26-year-old is calling for an overhaul of the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act, saying there needs to be tougher safeguards for staffers amid concerns politicians can sack their employees on the spot if they lose confidence in them.

Ms Higgins also wants the membership of the “star chamber”, which hires political advisers, to be published annually.

Meeting at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Sydney, the Prime Minister and Ms Higgins had a “robust discussion” about the need for an independent authority to investigate complaints at Parliament House and to offer advice to MPs.

“The Prime Minister acknowledged the system had let me down,” Ms Higgins said.

“Ultimately, in the end, I think there was a consensus that reform needs to happen. I am hopeful that ... he is going to do the right thing by the women in parliament.

“He fundamentally seemed to understand what had happened to me, and how it was handled in a more holistic way. And that was encouraging, I think, by the end of the conversation.”

Mr Morrison said he was pleased to be able to meet with Ms Higgins - who revealed her alleged rape in February - and listen to her views on how parliament can be made safer and more respectful, as he vowed to reform the workplace.

Ms Higgins speaks to the media after a meeting with Scott Morrison at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins is leading a nine-month investigation into the building’s workplace culture, while Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet deputy secretary Stephanie Foster has been tasked with scrutinising what support is available for political staffers making complaints.

The Prime Minister, who came under weeks of pressure over his government’s handling of Ms Higgins’ rape allegation and treatment of women, acknowledged Ms Higgins “courage in coming forward” and assisting in both inquiries.

“I am committed to achieving an independent process to deal with these difficult issues. I expect that both Ms Foster’s and Commissioner Jenkins’ reviews will recommend how to deliver this important reform,” Mr Morrison said.

“In addition, the meeting was an opportunity to thank her (Ms Higgins) personally for her contribution to my government. As I told parliament, whether it’s members, senators, or our staff, we all want to make a contribution to our country and we should be able to do that in a safe environment for everyone.”

Ms Higgins also met with Anthony Albanese on Friday, who said her requests for reform were “modest and reasonable”.

“There‘s a need for an independent body so that any woman or any staff member faced with the issues which Brittany was faced with, with the reported sexual assault, or people with other issues related to staffing, relating to culture in Parliament House or in parliamentary offices, are able to go forward and get independent advice,” the Opposition Leader said.

“She is a courageous woman who is trying to get some reform and some outcome to change the culture in the future.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

A task force of five Australian Federal Police officers are investigating Ms Higgins’ alleged rape.

Mr Morrison first offered to meet with her during an interview on Nine’s A Current Affair program in late March.

She sent a letter to the Prime Minister’s office earlier this week outlining her request for the meeting to focus on the lack of “protections, resources and confidential reporting mechanisms to address any workplace issues” for political advisers.

Ms Higgins revealed that she was brought to a formal employment meeting in the room where she was allegedly raped — a decision the Morrison government has now accepted was an error by Senator Reynolds.

Her alleged rape has sparked a series of allegations of poor behaviour and mistreatment of women in Parliament House.