UPDATE: In a significant ruling, the WA Supreme Court has awarded $341,000 in damages to former defence minister Linda Reynolds, following a high-profile defamation case against former junior staffer Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz. This urgent judgment comes four-and-a-half years after Higgins publicly accused Reynolds of mishandling her rape allegation in 2019.
The court found that social media posts made by Higgins and Sharaz defamed Reynolds, particularly regarding her handling of Higgins’ serious allegations against former colleague Bruce Lehrmann, who has consistently denied the claims. The posts in question were deemed to have misrepresented Reynolds’ actions and character, leading to a devastating personal and professional impact on her life.
Reynolds, who has faced intense scrutiny since Higgins first went public with her allegations in 2021, expressed relief at the outcome. “This has been an incredibly emotionally and financially taxing journey, but I never gave up on the truth and on seeking justice,” she stated. The former minister emphasized that the legal action was necessary to restore her reputation, which she claims was damaged by “carefully curated lies” from Higgins and Sharaz.
The background of this case is fraught with political ramifications. Higgins’ allegations against Lehrmann sparked a firestorm, leading to intense political fallout, multiple lawsuits, and settlements, including a widely reported $2.4 million compensation payment to Higgins from the Commonwealth. This political controversy has resulted in significant changes in leadership and public perception in Australian politics.
In a dramatic twist, the court’s ruling also highlighted inconsistencies in Higgins’ statements during her media interviews, with Justice Paul Tottle stating that she made 26 false or misleading statements to fit a narrative. His findings cast doubt on the reliability of her accounts regarding the events that unfolded at Parliament House in March 2019, when she alleges she was raped by Lehrmann.
What’s next? Reynolds is now pursuing further legal action against the Commonwealth, alleging it breached its duty by settling Higgins’ claims without proper consideration of her own situation. Meanwhile, Lehrmann is appealing a separate Federal Court ruling that found against him in a defamation case involving Network 10 and journalist Lisa Wilkinson, who reported on Higgins’ allegations.
This latest development is not only a significant moment for Reynolds but also highlights the ongoing complexities and emotional toll of this case on all parties involved. As the legal battles continue, the ramifications for Australian politics and the treatment of sexual assault allegations remain urgent topics of discussion.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
