Reynolds yet to withdraw ‘lying cow’ comment

Lawyers for Brittany Higgins want Defence Minister Linda Reynolds to immediately withdraw controversial remarks

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds is due to be on sick leave until April after stress exacerbated an existing medical condition. Picture: Sean Davey

Lawyers representing former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins are insisting Defence Minister Linda Reynolds immediately withdraw her controversial “lying cow” ­remarks, with negotiations so far unable to reach a resolution.

The Australian revealed last week that Senator Reynolds made the comments about her former media adviser in the open part of her office on February 15, the day Ms Higgins went public about being allegedly raped by a former male colleague in the minister’s parliamentary office.

It is understood a retraction has not formed any part of a settlement suggested by Senator Reynolds’ legal team, despite demands she take such action and make an unequivocal apology “for the hurt and distress caused”.

After receiving a letter from Ms Higgins’ lawyer last Thursday threatening defamation action, Senator Reynolds issued a statement saying she wanted to ­“express how deeply sorry I am for these (lying cow) remarks and for any hurt and distress they have caused”.

She did not withdraw the comments, which Scott Morrison said were not made in reference to Ms Higgins’ account of the alleged rape but about the suggestion there had been a lack of support offered to her former adviser.

Senator Reynolds, who did not respond to a request for comment on Monday, has been on sick leave since February 24 after pressure over her handling of Ms Higgins’ rape allegation triggered a pre-existing medical condition.

She was meant to be back at work this week but her office ­revealed on Sunday she had been issued a new doctor’s certificate extending her leave until April 2, meaning she will miss the next parliamentary sitting week and scrutiny at Senate estimates.

While Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who is acting ­Defence Minister, defended Senator Reynolds’ extended leave, some government MPs said it was a bad look. “If she gets stressed out and can’t handle being a very important and senior minister, it might be very sad but she needs to step down,” said one MP, who did not want to be named.

Senator Payne said Labor’s calls for Senator Reynolds to resign were “entirely unreasonable” and declared her colleague should not be treated in that way.

“If a senior executive at any business finds themself dealing with a significant health challenge for a period of time, my experience and my understanding is that that individual is given the opportunity on medical advice to deal with that issue,” she said.

“That same respect and that same acknowledgment should be extended to Minister Reynolds in these circumstances. In fact, it is not the first time, it won’t be the last time that a person in public life has to deal with a health issue. It’s not a circumstance that anyone wishes for themselves or that anyone brings on themselves.”

Anthony Albanese said Senator Reynolds’ position was “simply untenable” after she failed to tell Mr Morrison for nearly two years about Ms Higgins’ rape allegation, had to twice correct statements to the Senate and made the “lying cow” remark. “It sends all the wrong messages to women who are brave enough to come forward and Brittany Higgins has shown incredible bravery.”

There are expectations within government that Senator Reynolds and Attorney-General Christian Porter, also on sick leave after identifying himself as the minister accused of a historical rape, will want to publicly defend their reputations on returning to parliament.