Linda Reynolds to pay damages to Brittany Higgins over ‘lying cow’ comment

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds publicly retracts comments she made in her parliamentary office about Brittany Higgins.

Senator Linda Reynolds during Question Time. Picture: Getty

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will pay damages to alleged sexual assault survivor Brittany Higgins as part of a defamation settlement for calling her a “lying cow,” The Australian can reveal.

In a statement this afternoon, Ms Reynolds, who is on medical leave, publicly retracted the comments she made in her Parliamentary office and unreservedly apologised to Ms Higgins for the hurt and distress her remarks caused.

The senior cabinet minister has also had to pay a sizeable damages to Ms Higgins, out of her own pocket, under the terms of the settlement brokered by her lawyers.

Ms Higgins said she plans to donate the money to a charity that assists victims of sexual assault and abuse.

Brittany Higgins.

The legal action comes after revelations in The Australian that Senator Reynolds called Ms Higgins a “lying cow” in an open-plan area of her parliamentary office on the day Higgins’ revelations she was sexually assaulted in Parliament House went public.

“On Friday 5 March I publicly apologised to Ms Brittany Higgins about the comment about her to my staff on 15 February 2021,” Senator Reynolds said in a statement today.

“I wish to further address that comment that I made. I did not mean it in the sense it may have been understood.

“Given that the comment was made public, which I never intended, I also want to retract it and unreservedly apologise to Brittany Higgins and acknowledge the hurt and distress it caused to her.”

pic.twitter.com/gnkc1G6Aks

— Linda Reynolds (@lindareynoldswa) March 12, 2021

In her own statement, Ms Higgins said she accepted the Minister’s apology for the comment which is understood to have devastated her.

“Today Minister Reynolds issued a public statement in relation to her comments about me made to her staff on 15 February 2021,” Ms Higgins said.

“I am pleased that the minister has now withdrawn her comments and I accept her apology to me.

“This has been an immensely challenging period to me and I wish to reiterate that the only reason I have chosen to come forward is to help others.

“Finally, any monies I have received from the Minister, as part of this settlement of my claim against her over and above my legal costs will be paid in full to an organisation that provides counselling and support for survivors of sexual assault and abuse in the Canberra area.

“These funds will assist them in this important work.”

Ms Higgins came forward to News Corp with allegations that she was raped at Parliament House by a former Liberal Party adviser in 2019.

She was critical of Senator Reynolds’ handling of the alleged assault in the immediate aftermath.

Higgins hired lawyer Rebekah Giles of reputational risk firm Company Giles, who also represented Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young in her defamation action against former Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm.

When The Australian published the remarks Senator Reynolds had made about Ms Higgins, Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the comments as “offensive and wrong”.

He is under pressure to replace Senator Reynolds in the defence portfolio with Peter Dutton, should Reynolds not be well enough to return this parliamentary term.

The Defence Minister took medical leave on advice of her cardiologist following the Brittany Higgins scandal and has extended her leave until April 2.

But there are concerns she may not be well enough to return after that and potentially not even before the next election.

If this turns out to be the case, there are discussions underway about Mr Dutton moving to the role of defence minister – a shift that was canvassed before the last reshuffle.

The speculation is that Stuart Roberts would become the home affairs minister.

Ahead of the last reshuffle, there was a push to oust Senator Reynolds but Treasurer Josh Frydenberg fought to keep her in the defence portfolio.