Brittany Higgins claims that a violation of her privacy occurred when a private diary entry she provided to police in relation to rape accusations against a fellow parliamentary staff member was released to the public.
The Australian on Saturday made reference to the diary’s entries, which indicate meetings with many journalists and the former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in March 2021.
A former minister, Linda Reynolds, claimed in an interview with the newspaper that she was the target of a “very well-orchestrated political campaign” to bring down both her and the coalition government at the time.
In 2019, Ms. Higgins accused Bruce Lehrmann, a coworker, of raping her inside Ms. Reynolds’ office at Parliament House, where they both worked.
Due to improper behavior by the jury, Mr. Lehrmann’s criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court was adjourned in October.
Due to worries about the effects a second trial might have on Ms. Higgins’ mental health, the prosecution eventually dismissed the charges.
Mr. Lehrmann maintains that he and Ms. Higgins never had any sexual contact, refuting the rape claim.
Ms. Higgins said in a series of tweets on Saturday that she sent police a copy of a diary page for their investigation in 2021.
She claimed that none of the information she freely gave the police to assist them compile their evidence brief was ever presented in court.
Hence, the photograph of my diary shouldn’t have been viewed by a journalist.
That was the third time, Ms. Higgins said, that private information from her phone had been made public.
“Stop sharing the personal information on my phone.” I just gave the police my private information so that they may use it to further their investigation into my sexual assault, she stated.
During Mr. Lehrmann’s trial, proposals were made. When Ms Reynolds met with Ms Higgins after the alleged attack, her major worry was the potential effect the rape accusation may have on the impending federal election.
At the trial, Ms. Reynolds vehemently refuted the allegation and told The Australian that it felt “like a spike through my heart.”
According to her comments to the newspaper, “Brittany’s tale was excellent for the MeToo movement and for those of my colleagues in the Senate who were seeking to bring down the administration.”
Although the ACT government has started an independent investigation into how police, prosecutors, and a victims’ support organization handled Ms. Higgins’ complaint, Mr. Lehrmann is suing several media sites for their coverage of the rape claims.
Last year, Ms. Higgins and the Commonwealth agreed a secret settlement on her allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination in parliament, which is said to be worth several million dollars.
»Brittany Higgins alleges police violated her private diary entry«