Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds says it’s time for the truth to be told as her bitter defamation battle with former staffer Brittany Higgins goes to trial.
The former defence minister is suing Ms Higgins over a series of social media posts she says damaged her reputation.
Mediation has failed to resolve the case, which is listed in the Western Australian Supreme Court on Friday for opening submissions.
The couple shared posts in 2022 and 2023 which were critical of Senator Reynolds’ handling of Ms Higgins’ allegation she was raped in Parliament House in 2019 by her then-colleague Bruce Lehrmann.
Mr Lehrmann was charged and faced trial in 2022, but the trial was aborted over juror misconduct and the charge was dropped shortly after.
Mr Lehrmann had pleaded not guilty and has maintained his innocence.
Linda Reynolds told reporters outside court that she was ‘confident’ about the case
WA Liberal senator Linda Reynolds is suing Brittany Higgins for defamation. She arrived at court flanked by husband Robert Reid (left), lawyer Martin Bennett (red tie) and entourage
Linda Reynolds’ blistering message on arrival
Linda Reynolds arrived at the WA Supreme Court just before 10am on Friday. She was surrounded by her legal team, and her husband was holding her hand.
She did not stop to talk to reporters outside the court, but briefly answered questions as she walked, saying she was feeling ‘confident the truth was about to be told – it’s well and truly time for the truth.’
Brittany Higgins’ defence team arrived at court shortly afterwards.
Her lawyer Rachel Young did not respond to questions, and did not confirm if Ms Higgins would be in attendance.
The former Liberal staffer is reported to be returning to Australia from France at some point to give evidence.
Senator Reynold’s claim
Ms Reynolds has alleged in her statement of claim that Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz’s posts suggested the senator had engaged in a ‘campaign’ of harassing Ms Higgins and failed to support Ms Higgins after her rape allegation.
The document claimed that they asserted that Ms Reynolds wants to ‘silence victims of sexual assault’ and engaged in questionable conduct during Mr Lehrmann’s trial.
Ms Reynolds further alleges the ‘intense questioning’ she faced in the Senate in the wake of Ms Higgins’ rape allegation being aired on The Project exacerbated a previously undiagnosed cardiac condition.
The senator said she was hospitalised in March 2021 as a result of ‘the stress caused by the Project broadcast and the aggressive questioning of her in the Senate which was a direct consequence of the conduct of the defendant’.
Higgins’ defence
In documents released by the Supreme Court, Ms Higgins revealed she will argue the social media posts were substantially true, and that she was sharing her opinion on ‘a matter of public interest’.
Ms Higgins (pictured with husband David Sharaz) is expected to return from France during the trial to give evidence
Ms Higgins claims in the documents that Ms Reynolds had shared ‘confidential correspondence’ with media which included an internal government departmental email marked ‘sensitive: personal’ relating to the multi million-dollar payout Ms Higgins received in compensation following the alleged rape.
Ms Higgins further claims the senator engaged in a ‘campaign of harassment’ against her by providing the ‘confidential information to the media’ regarding mediation and complaints to the Commonwealth, as well as ‘directly or indirectly’ questioning her personal injury claim against the Commonwealth.
The trial is set down for five weeks.
Ms Higgins is expected to return to Australia from France to give evidence, and other high profile witnesses, including former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, are also expected to appear.
More to come
