Defence Minister Linda Reynolds to return to work next month, as alleged Liberal rape claims widen

Defence Minister hospitalised amid rape claims to resume full control of her portfolio, as sex assault scandal widens for Liberals.

Greg Sheridan

less than 2 min read

3:42PMFebruary 28, 2021.

Updated 4:08PMFebruary 28, 2021

Senator Linda Reynolds has been on sick leave in the wake of Brittany Higgins’ public rape allegations.

Defence Minister, Linda Reynolds, will resume full control of her giant portfolio by March 8.

Senator Reynolds is now on sick leave.

It is believed Senator Reynolds, who spent two days in hospital last week with medical issues relating to a heart complaint, is hopeful of returning to work earlier than March 8 if possible.

She is at home in Canberra and is in frequent touch with her office.

Senator Reynolds signed an instrument formally transferring her authority as Defence Minister to her colleague, Marise Payne, the Foreign Minister, who is now also Acting Defence Minister.

That authority is set to expire on March 8, along with Senator Reynolds’ medical certificate which lasts until March 8. She is likely to resume some duties before then.

Senator Reynolds became ill after experiencing days of intense pressure, including relentless questioning in the Senate, following the allegation by her former staffer, Brittany Higgins, that Ms Higgins, while in the minister’s employ, had been raped by a colleague late at night in the minister’s office. Her complaint triggered a series of others involving alleged sexual misconduct, including the surfacing of a rape allegation involving an unnamed sitting cabinet minister back before he entered politics.

It has been revealed several senior political figures — including former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor’s shadow Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong — had been contacted by the woman over the allegations before she took her own life last year.

Mr Turnbull today said an inquest should be held into the woman’s death, and news.com.au reports she left behind a trove of documents and recordings detailing the alleged rape in Sydney in 1988.

Greg SheridanForeign Editor

Greg Sheridan is The Australian's foreign editor. His most recent book, Christians, the urgent case for Jesus in our world, became a best seller weeks after publication. It makes the case for the historical reliability of the New Testament and explores the lives of early Christians and contemporary Christians. He is one of the nation's most influential national security commentators, who is active across television and radio, and also writes extensively on culture and religion. He has written eight books, mostly on Asia and international relations. A previous book, God is Good for You, was also a best seller. When We Were Young and Foolish was an entertaining memoir of culture, politics and journalism. As foreign editor, he specialises in Asia and America. He has interviewed Presidents and Prime Ministers around the world.

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