By Stephen Brook and Kishor Napier-Raman
David Sharaz has a new baby, a new city and a new job.
The ex-journalist and his wife, former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, have set up home in Melbourne and shared on social media this month that they have welcomed a baby boy into the world, name undisclosed.
David Sharaz and Brittany HigginsCredit: Instagram
But wait, there’s more. Sharaz, 33, a former journalist for SBS and Sky News and senior media adviser in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, has secured himself a new comms job for an independent agency.
The couple have never been far from the media spotlight after Higgins went public in 2021 with an allegation she was raped in Parliament House, prompting a political controversy for the ages, one which damaged the Morrison government and led to an aborted criminal trial, two defamation cases, years of media scrutiny and social media abuse.
Despite the intense gaze, Sharaz managed to keep secret that he had joined the climate, finance and tech PR agency Third Hemisphere as a director. Until now.
This is despite the fact he represented the agency several weeks ago in Sydney at the net zero Impact X Summit.
Third Hemisphere was founded by Hannah Moreno, a sexual assault and domestic violence campaigner. She is the agency’s chief executive, while her husband, Jeremy Liddle, is managing director. The Sydney firm is expanding its presence in Melbourne, where Sharaz will work as a director with a brief to boost its political media engagement.
Higgins and Sharaz married last June on the Gold Coast. Why they chose Melbourne as home is unclear but it is coincidentally home to their formidable lawyer, Arnold Bloch Leibler partner Leon Zwier.
The birth of their son this month caps a tumultuous period for the couple. Last year Federal Court judge Michael Lee found that on the balance of probabilities fellow staffer Bruce Lehrmann had raped Higgins in Parliament House in 2019, dismissing a defamation case Lehrmann brought against the Ten Network. Lehrmann has appealed Lee’s decision.
Sharaz and Higgins have listed their French home for sale to cover the legal costs of defending defamation action brought against Higgins by her former boss, ex-minister Linda Reynolds, in the West Australian Supreme Court.
They bought the home in rural France after Higgins settled a civil claim against the Commonwealth for $2.4 million. She said she received about $1.9 million after legal fees and taxes.
Higgins received the payment after Lehrmann’s ACT rape trial was aborted in October 2022 due to juror misconduct. The charges against Lehrmann, who maintains his innocence, were later dropped owing to concerns about Higgins’ mental health.
Situation vacant
The ABC’s top journos will be freshening up their CVs now that one of the most sought-after jobs in media, global affairs editor, is up for grabs.
John Lyons has become the ABC’s Americas editor.
A job listing was posted on Tuesday as Aunty rolled out one of its most respected figures, former Sydney Morning Herald editor John Lyons as its new Americas editor. Lyons is moving to Washington for the three-year posting, replacing bureau chief Jade Macmillan (with a handy job title upgrade).
The news veteran moves on from several years in his jet-setting position as the ABC’s global affairs editor, a role created for him. He was the 2024 Kennedys Journalist of the Year for his commentary on Gaza and Ukraine.
Yet both conflicts are, to some extent, profoundly influenced by the will of Donald Trump. Thus, Aunty seconded Lyons to work in Washington and has now announced his position will be ongoing.
As to who replaces Lyons as global affairs editor, your guess is as good as ours. Unusually, the position is being advertised externally, but it’s probably a toss up between Patricia Karvelas and Patricia Karvelas.
Expensive legal battle
Take the black sheep of a storied horse-racing dynasty, a pale pink Spanish mission-style mansion with a 1000-bottle wine cellar and an Aston Martin-driving investment banker and what do you get? A property dispute and quintessential CBD fodder.
In 2023, art dealer David Waterhouse, a long-estranged member of that famed racing clan (his sister-in-law is trainer Gai Waterhouse) sold the famous Villa Biscaya mansion in Sydney’s Rose Bay for $26 million to Michael Rothner, principal of real estate investment management firm Ashe Morgan and celebrity pages favourite thanks to his penchant for posing for photos with Sacha Baron Cohen, Tyra Banks and Cate Blanchett.
Then, the trouble started. Rothner lives in the property, but settlement won’t be concluded until mid-year at the soonest. Last year, Waterhouse sued Rothner, seeking damages after accusing Rothner’s ex-wife Lisa of cutting down trees on the neighbouring property. Both Rothners say nothing to do with them.
David Waterhouse at Sydney’s Villa Biscaya, which he bought in 2020. He sold it in 2023 for $26 million.Credit: Janie Barrett
Meanwhile, Rothner is counter-suing, claiming Waterhouse’s alleged refusal to sign off promptly on his development applications was highly costly.
Although, there has been some relief for Rothner: Waterhouse has agreed to sign off on his latest $3.2 million development application to demolish a cabana and build a swimming pool and wellness pavilion.
But the fights over the trees and development application delays remain listed for a directions hearing before Justice Ian Pike in the NSW Supreme Court next week. Both parties are silked up to the gills, with Waterhouse represented by Francis Douglas, KC, and Stuart Lawrance, SC, acting for Rothner.
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