Liberal senator Linda Reynolds’ high-profile battle for vindication from claims she mishandled Brittany Higgins‘ rape allegation is set to resume with evidence from the politician’s husband.
The former defence minister is suing her former staffer for defamation over a series of social media posts containing alleged mistruths that she believes have damaged her reputation.
Robert Reid is expected to step into the witness box in the Perth court following a week of evidence from Reynolds that laid bare the alleged rape in 2019 and the dramatic saga that lead to the current stoush.
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The senator alleged Higgins and her now-husband David Sharaz cast her as the “villain” in their “political cover-up fairy tale” that included allegations of ill-treatment, ostracism, bullying, harassment and threatening conduct.
Ms Higgins’ lawyer Rachael Young told the West Australian Supreme Court her client was courageous in 2021 when she spoke up about her alleged rape and workplace culture at Parliament House.
She ridiculed the claim Higgins was targeting the senator in a bid to harm her when she spoke to journalists Lisa Wilkinson on Network Ten’s The Project and Samantha Maiden from News Corp about the alleged mishandling of the incident.
The court heard it led to a political firestorm for the Morrison government and Reynolds’ breakdown after the Labor Party allegedly “weaponised” Higgins’ rape accusation and claims it was mishandled.
The senator described some of the social media posts that followed were “creepy, incredibly hurtful and threatening”.
She said the posts left her feeling angry, depressed and frustrated and in one instance “sick” because they made allegations that were not true.
Reynolds told the trial she felt humiliated and “not in a good head space” after her breakdown was publicised.
Higgins’ defence relies on truth and that it was reasonable to comment and provide opinion on issues of public interest concerning government and political matters.
She is being sued over five social media posts in 2022 and 2023.
Reynolds was also pursuing Sharaz for defamation but he announced in April he would no longer fight the case and consented to judgment.
Higgins alleged that colleague Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Reynolds’ office in 2019.
Lehrmann has always denied the allegation and his criminal trial was derailed by juror misconduct.
Higgins is due to leave her home in France to testify in court later in August.
Readers seeking support can contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028.
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