Previously secret documents have revealed the alleged tactics Labor used which denied Linda Reynolds of her defence against Brittany Higgins’ claims of a political cover-up, which ultimately resulted in Ms Higgins receiving a $2.4 million Commonwealth payout.
According to The Australian, the cache of documents show Commonwealth lawyers allegedly ignored Ms Reynolds’ instructions and failed to provide the former senator with crucial information about the settlement process.
Ms Reynolds has taken the Commonwealth and law firm HWL Ebsworth to court over the controversial settlement, which was awarded to Ms Higgins in 2022 following just a single day of mediation, saying she was forcibly excluded from negotiations.
The former senator also alleges Ms Higgins’ claims of a political cover-up of her rape claim against Bruce Lehrmann were false and should not have been used as the basis for the multimillion dollar payout.
Two separate defamation rulings, one from Justice Michael Lee and another from Justice Paul Tottle, found Ms Higgins’ cover-up claims lacked merit.
Ms Reynolds alleges Ms Higgins’ claims of a political cover-up of her rape claim against Bruce Lehrmann were false and should not have been used as the basis for the multimillion dollar payout. Picture: Colin Murty
Details of the settlement had been largely shrouded in secrecy, with Ms Reynolds having been denied access to the agreement until Justice Lee ordered its disclosure last year.
The latest trove of documents came via discovery in Ms Reynolds’ defamation suit against Ms Higgins in Western Australia’s Supreme Court, where Justice Tottle awarded the former senator more than $340,00 in damages and interest.
Sky News
