Brittany Higgins has publicly denied receiving a $3 million compensation from taxpayers, arguing that she really got “much less” and threatening legal action if the allegation is made again.
A political aide tweeted on Monday, “That is significantly greater than $3 Million,” in response to 2GB morning anchor Ben Fordham: How much was Brittany Higgins paid? Almost immediately, Ms. Higgins responded, calling the title “just plain false.”
She has never before reacted to allegations that she got a $3 million payoff from the taxpayer.
Early in 2022, she said, “I began the legal procedure with the Coalition government.”
The settlement was far less than the stated amount that the media has been using, if not more than it.
“I’m going to have to start suing media outlets,” the speaker said.
In response, Fordham said on the radio, “I believe, ultimately, people are going to want to know how much money was turned over.” Fordham also recognized Ms. Higgins’ worries.
Importantly, he said, we’re discussing a situation in which the accusations were vehemently refuted, and we are aware that the court case ultimately failed.
Although the month-long trial in the ACT Supreme Court against her claimed rapist Bruce Lehrmann ended in failure in October, Ms. Higgins secured a compensation deal with the Government for an undisclosed sum in December.
During a night out in March 2019, she claimed that Mr. Lehrmann had sexually assaulted her at Parliament House. Notwithstanding Mr. Lehrmann’s declaration of innocence, the trial was dismissed because of misbehavior on the part of a jury member.
In December, ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold SC completely abandoned the prosecution due to concerns about Ms. Higgins’ mental health.
One of Ms. Higgins’ complaints against the Commonwealth was that she felt her then-boss, former Liberal defense industry minister Linda Reynolds, did not adequately assist her when she alleged assault.
Senator Reynolds has always said that she did provide Ms. Higgins her support.
Senator Reynolds said Katy Gallagher, the current finance minister, knew Ms. Higgins’ fiancé David Sharaz before the rape claims were made public in February 2021 in a tell-all interview with The Weekend Australian on Sunday.
After Labor was elected in May 2022, Senator Gallagher, who was then a member of the opposition party, became a minister in the federal parliament.
The payment for Ms. Higgins was eventually paid by the finance division of Senator Gallagher.
Senator Reynolds claims that at a private meeting with her and two other Parliamentarians in 2021, the finance minister recognized her relationship with Mr. Sharaz and warned her that “something huge” was about to happen.
Senator Reynolds said that She was informed by Senator Gallagher that she often spoke with Ms. Higgins.
The minister of finance, according to a representative for Ms. Gallagher, “has no decision-making involvement in procedures concerning key legal problems.”
Anthony Albanese had refrained from commenting on whether having Senator Gallagher supervise the resolution with Ms. Higgins constituted a conflict of interest.
Labor has always said that it did not use Ms. Higgins’ alleged rape for political purposes.
»Brittany Higgins explodes over a $3 million payout«