Senator Linda Reynolds is suing Brittany Higgins for defamation

Former defence minister Linda Reynolds is suing her former staffer Brittany Higgins for defamation over comments made on social media.

Liberal senator Linda Reynolds is suing her former employee Brittany Higgins for defamation over social media posts which accused her of harassment.

The politician has filed proceedings with the Western Australian Supreme Court to seek damages for the alleged hurt caused by the online comments.

Ms Reynolds claims she was defamed in an Instagram story posted by Ms Higgins on July 4 and a Twitter post on July 20 in which her former staffer accused her of harassment.

Brittany Higgins allegedly defamed her former boss in two social media posts. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The former government services minister said she had issued her former staffer with a concerns notice on July 5 that requested “that (Ms Higgins) refrain from defaming me”.

“Her conduct following receipt of that notice, including her post of 20 July and the unsatisfactory response received from her lawyer, is evidence that she has no intention of stopping,” Ms Reynolds said in a statement.

“Ms Higgins continues to use the media to make defamatory comments about my conduct notwithstanding the existence of facts and evidence to the contrary.”

The senator alleges the negative social media posts were a breach of her agreement with Ms Higgins that the pair signed in March 2021.

Senator Linda Reynolds appeared relaxed as news of the lawsuit broke. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The settlement was signed after Ms Higgins went public with allegations that she had been raped by her colleague Bruce Lehrmann in Ms Reynolds’ ministerial office at Parliament House.

She had been working for Ms Reynolds at the time of the alleged sexual assault, which Mr Lehrmann continues to deny.

He pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and there have been no findings made against him.

A trial was abandoned last year due to juror misconduct and the Director of Public Prosecutions announced he would not pursue a retrial.

The agreement between Ms Reynolds and Ms Higgins included a non-disparagement clause, which the former defence minister alleges her former staffer has breached.

She is asking the court to impose a permanent ban on Ms Higgins publishing any defamatory material or committing any breaches of the settlement.

Bruce Lehrmann denied raping Ms Higgins at Parliament House in 2019. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Flavio Brancaleone

Ms Higgins appears to have since deleted her Instagram and Twitter accounts.

She took to Twitter last month to confirm her former employer had been in touch about the social media posts.

“I’ve just received a concerns notice from @lindareynoldswa threatening defamation over an Instagram story,” she tweeted.

“I’m considering my legal options.”

After sending the concerns notice last month, Ms Reynolds said she would not tolerate attacks on her character.

Ms Reynolds said Ms Higgins’ lawyers had sent a ‘wholly unsatisfactory’ response to her concerns notice. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Ever since Ms Higgins first made her allegations of rape public, I have been the target of unwarranted criticism and abuse,” she said.

“Until now I have not taken any action against her personally …. (but) I have had enough.”

In 2021, Ms Reynolds publicly apologised to her former staffer for calling her a “lying cow” and offered an unreserved apology for her handling of the rape allegations.

NCA NewsWire has contacted Ms Higgins’ lawyer for comment.

Originally published as Senator Linda Reynolds is suing Brittany Higgins for defamation