‘Time to stop’: Brittany Higgins lashes out against Linda Reynolds

Brittany Higgins slams Linda Reynolds after the Lib MP said she would ask the National Anti-Corruption Commission to probe the $2.5m payment to her former staffer.

Brittany Higgins outside the Magistrates Court in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Brittany Higgins has lashed out at her former boss, Linda Reynolds, after the Liberal MP said she would ask the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the commonwealth payment to her former staffer.

Brittany Higgins’ Instagram story.

On Tuesday Ms Higgins posted on social media a series of newspaper headlines that she claimed originate “from a current Australian Senator who continues to harass me through the media and in the Parliament .... This has been going on for years now. It is time to stop.”

Senator Reynolds has indicated she will refer Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to the NACC over the payment of more than $2.5 million in compensation to her former staffer following Ms Higgins’ claims her allegations of rape were mishandled.

“The basis for the settlement and the reasons why the Attorney-General barred me and Senator (Michaelia) Cash from defending serious allegations against us have not been explained to us or to the Australian people,” Senator Reynolds said.

“I believe that the Attorney-General must not only be impartial, but must also be seen to be impartial, which requires transparency.”

Ms Higgins’ posted newspaper headlines referring to Senator Reynolds’ statement, including one reading: “ ‘Punitive’: Reynolds accuses Attorney-General of prejudice over Lehrmann inquiry”.

Ms Higgins then commented: “My boss who has publicly apologised for mishandling my rape allegation. Who has had to publicly apologise after defaming me in the workplace. Who had a whole bunch of questionable conduct during my rape trial. Who is suing my fiancé for a tweet.”

Brittany Higgins being signed in at Parliament House Canberra. Pictures: Seven Picture - Seven News Spotlight

Ms Higgins claimed up to 40 years’ worth of economic loss and the end of her pursuit of a future political career were among the reasons she was due more than $2.5m in compensation from the government after allegedly being raped, a draft statement of claim revealed last month.

Mr Dreyfus has consistently refused to answer questions over Ms Higgins’ multi-million-dollar payout, which was provided without the consultation of former senior Liberal ministers at the centre of her claims.

Brittany Higgins (second from left) at a dinner function with Linda Reynolds (left) in Perth. Picture: SkyNews

Last year The Australian revealed the Albanese government muzzled Senator Reynolds in her defence against the multi-million-dollar lawsuit, threatening to tear up an agreement to pay her legal fees and any costs awarded unless she agreed not to attend mediation.

Senator Reynolds was determined to defend herself against Ms Higgins’ allegations but in correspondence obtained by The Australian, the commonwealth’s lawyers told her she could not take part in the mediation.

She was therefore unable to dispute any of Ms Higgins’ allegations about a failure to support her or properly investigate the incident, some of which were contested by both Senator Reynolds and her then chief of staff Fiona Brown at Mr Lehrmann’s trial.