Katy Gallagher apologises to Linda Reynolds over ‘hurt’ amid Brittany Higgins saga

The voice of under-seige Katy Gallagher cracked as she apologised to Linda Reynolds in the Senate for ‘any hurt she endured’ over the Brittany Higgins saga | WATCH

Katy Gallagher during question time in the Senate on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Katy Gallagher tearfully apologised to Liberal senator Linda Reynolds during a third day of parliamentary grilling by the Coalition, but maintained her refusal to provide details on the advice she provided Brittany Higgins supporters ahead of her rape allegation being made public.

The under-siege Finance Minister for the first time said “sorry” to Senator Reynolds over any hurt caused when Labor was ­pursuing the issue two years ago, but steadfastly defended her handling of the incident.

The government also resisted providing any further details on why it granted Ms Higgins a multimillion-dollar compensation settlement after The Australian revealed her claim was based on losing 40 years of income.

Finance minister Katy Gallagher has choked back tears during @AuSenate#qt. Day four of intense scrutiny over her involvement with the Higgins allegations by the coalition. pic.twitter.com/T19SoZyRbl

— Jenna Clarke (@jennamclarke) June 15, 2023

Ms Higgins’s claim alleged that she was subject to a toxic work environment in the offices of former ministers Michaelia Cash and Linda Reynolds, with both ministers being carved out of mediation proceedings. The Australian understands that Senator Reynolds and Senator Cash were not given the opportunity to provide written evidence for the proceedings with senior Coalition sources saying they were “baffled” by the toxic-workplace allegations.

Senator Cash told The Australian that she was “never asked to provide any information in relation to the mediation”.

On Thursday, former speaker of the house, Liberal MP Andrew Wallace accused Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus of “gagging” Senator Reynolds. Mr Wallace, a former lawyer, attempted to table a letter from commonwealth lawyers stating that Mr Dreyfus had exercised his discretion to “control” Senator Reynolds’ defence, preventing her from attending mediation or speaking publicly about the case. Mr Wallace said it was inappropriate for Mr Dreyfus to take control of the conduct of a former government minister.

Senator Reynolds became emotional during the apology. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Barrister and constitutional law lecturer Gray Connolly said the commonwealth was obliged to conduct itself as a model litigant by “defending fully and firmly claims brought against the commonwealth where a defence is properly available”. Mr Connolly said much was unknown about Ms Higgins’ compensation claim, including if statements of claims and defences were ever lodged in court.

“The commonwealth as a model litigant must be a model of probity and transparency.

“The conduct of the commonwealth in dealing so rapidly with Ms Higgins’ claim are in the most stark of contrasts to claims the commonwealth settles, only after years have passed, such as those made by war veterans, for example.”

Senator Gallagher became emotional on Thursday when ­responding to questioning from opposition infrastructure spokes­woman Bridget McKenzie, who accused her of failing to answer “basic questions of fact”.

Linda Reynolds in the senate on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Finance Minister said she was “sorry” for the anguish felt by Senator Reynolds after Labor ­targeted her in the Senate in 2021. “I am sorry … Senator Reynolds is clearly upset about everything that’s happened to her, I am sorry about that,” Senator Gallagher said.

The apology was rejected by senior Coalition frontbenchers. Senator Cash accused Foreign Minister Penny Wong of running a “protection racquet” as Labor tried to shut down the questions.

While Senator Wong’s push to shut down the questions failed, Senator Gallagher was evasive in her answers and declared she would not breach the confidence of any woman who had disclosed allegations of sexual assault.

“If I was to breach that and start splashing it around the place then I would be breaching that confidence and I am not doing so,” she said. “I am very disappointed at this week, at the work we have done on Jenkins, on Respect At Work, on asking women to come forward when something happens to them and then treating women the way they are being treated right now.”

Senator Michaelia Cash and Linda Reynolds. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Albanese defended Senator Gallagher in the House of Representatives on Thursday, saying she had his “absolute confidence” and the care she has for women “characterises the very nature” of who she is as a person. “Senator Gallagher has more integrity, has more integrity than … some of the people who were pursuing these issues.

“I stand by Senator Gallagher, she has my absolute confidence, absolute confidence, both as Finance Minister, both as Minister for the Status of Women, but also as a human being, who cares deeply about women,” he said.