Brittany Higgins may press charges over alleged Parliament House rape

A former Liberal staffer who was allegedly raped by a colleague in Defence Minister Linda Reynolds’ office says the location of the alleged crime was the only reason any action was taken.

A former Liberal staffer who was allegedly raped by a colleague in Defence Minister Linda Reynolds’ office has been told she may still proceed with a police investigation if she wants to.

Media Adviser Brittany Higgins has waived her right to anonymity as an alleged victim of sexual assault, and revealed how she felt there were people in the Morrison Government who “didn’t care” about her horrific experience, and only “cared about the (Liberal) Party”.

Ms Higgins was 24-years-old when the alleged incident took place on March 23, 2019, just weeks before the last federal election was called.

Brittany Higgins alleges she was raped at Parliament House by a colleague but claims she felt she had to choose between going to the police and keeping her job.

After an evening drinking with colleagues, Ms Higgins, who was then just four weeks into her new job working for Ms Reynolds, alleges she was sexually assaulted in the minister’s office by another Liberal staffer.

Ms Higgins told news.com.au the pair had agreed to share a taxi home from the event as they lived in the same direction, but instead he took her to Parliament House.

After arriving in Ms Reynold’s office, Ms Higgins said she began to feel unwell, and lay down on the couch.

She alleges she later woke up to the Liberal staffer having sex with her.

“I told him to stop,” she said.

“I was crying the whole way through it.”

Ms Higgins said the man left her there, but she did not exit parliament until the next morning, still wearing her cocktail dress from the evening before.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds answered questions from Labor about a former staffer who was allegedly raped in her office, in Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Security guards and the Australian Federal Police patrolling Parliament House had noticed her, and within days the Department of Finance reported to Ms Reynolds’ office that she had been seen after entering the building on the Saturday night.

The matter was considered a security breach as the Defence Minister’s office contained classified information.

Ms Higgins was then brought to a formal employment meeting about the security breach, where she learned the male staffer had agreed to resign that day.

Ms Higgins said she “barely” remembered the conversation as the meeting took place in the same room she was allegedly raped.

At a second meeting Ms Higgins disclosed her alleged assault, and later reported the matter to the AFP though did not pursue the matter further at the time.

Ms Higgins said she felt her colleagues did not care about her.

“It’s devastating and it’s soul destroying and I think about it every day but the only thing that I know that made everyone else care about it was (where it happened) and who it was connected to,” she said.

“It wasn’t for concern over me, and that was really impressed upon me, like this was a political issue and this wasn’t something to be shared.”

ACT Policing has confirmed its investigation into the matter “remains open” after Ms Higgins initially raised it in April 2019, and a spokesman said she was free to continue with a formal complaint at any time.

Ms Higgins said she felt like a “weird little … side character” in what would “become a narrative” people were concerned about.

A government spokesman confirmed on March 26, 2019, senior staff in Ms Reynolds’ office became aware the office was accessed after hours and that an “incident” had occurred.

“The government has aimed to provide Ms Higgins with agency, provide support to make decisions in her interests, and to respect her privacy,” he said.

“Ms Higgins was notified that should she choose to, she should pursue a complaint, including a complaint made to the police, and that to do so was within her rights. She was informed that she would be assisted and supported through that process.”

The spokesman said the decision to hold the meeting with Ms Higgins in the same location as the alleged rape was “regretted” in “hindsight”.

“Minister Reynolds reiterated to Ms Higgins that whatever she chose to do, she would be supported. Minister Reynolds stated to Ms Higgins that her only concern was for her welfare and stated there would be no impact on her career,” he said.

A spokesman for ACT Policing confirmed a report was received in relation to an alleged assault at Parliament House in 2019.

“ACT Policing investigators subsequently spoke to the complainant who chose not to proceed with making a formal complaint,” he said.

“ACT Policing’s investigation remains open but did not progress at that time as a result.”

The spokesman said ACT policing had “continued to engage” with Ms Higgins throughout the investigation and also provided details of support services.

“If the victim wishes to proceed, ACT Policing will assess the case and make a decision about whether there is sufficient evidence,” he said.

After the election Ms Higgins went to work for Employment Minister Michaelia Cash.

Brittany Higgins resigned from Employment Minister Michaelia Cash’s office this year claiming she could not continue to work in Parliament due to the incident two years earlier. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

A spokesman for Ms Cash said the minister and her chief of staff were not aware of the alleged sexual assault until recently.

“In October 2019, a journalist made a media inquiry that involved Ms Higgins and her previous employment,” the spokesman said.

“When the Minister and COS raised this with Ms Higgins she informed them that she did not want to discuss the issue other than it involved her and a former (staffer).

The spokesman said Ms Cash decided to “respect Ms Higgins wishes for privacy” but offered assistance if it was needed.

“At the end of January this year, Ms Higgins advised the Minister and COS that the March 2019 matter had become an issue and that she wished to resign and leave Canberra,” the spokesman said.

“Both the Minister and COS advised that they wished for Ms Higgins to stay on in her role as she was good at it and they would do whatever they could to support her including relocating her job to Queensland, if she wished.

“Ms Higgins was grateful for the offer but declined.”

Ms Higgins formally resigned in February 2021.

Asked about the alleged incident on Monday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said “all women” should feel comfortable reporting allegations of sexual assault “at all times”.

However she said more work needs to be done to ensure women feel comfortable reporting sexual assault.

“In all circumstances all women should feel comfortable in reporting crimes of that nature,” she said.

Asked whether women in the Liberal party feel comfortable reporting sexual assault at all times, Ms Berejiklian said she didn’t believe women ever felt that way as it was a “very difficult decision”.

“I don’t think it’s specific to one political party or another ,or one part of society or another, and I think they’re broader issues that need further work,” she said.

Originally published as Brittany Higgins may press charges over alleged Parliament House rape