Former Senator Linda Reynolds demands apology from Prime Minister over handling of saga

Say sorry, Prime Minister.

As former Senator Linda Reynolds arrived at the WA Liberal State conference on Saturday — at which she received a standing ovation from the party faithful for winning her defamation case against Brittany Higgins — she had a strong message for Anthony Albanese.

“Given that he (Anthony Albanese) and his colleagues so enthusiastically spent pretty much the last 4½ years prosecuting her messages to the great detriment of myself — my physical and mental health and my financial circumstances — surely Prime Minster, the decent thing is to say sorry,” Ms Reynolds said.

“The last 4½ years, I can’t lie. It’s been hell.

“They’ve been hell for me, my partner, my family, my staff, my friends — no one more so than Fiona Brown (former chief of staff).

“Sometimes in these circumstances you have to decide what is the right thing to do and once you have decided to stand up and fight, you stay the course.

“I am still standing. I am still smiling — but it has taken a very big toll on me and those I love.”

A civil Federal Court judgement in 2024 confirmed that on the balance of probabilities Ms Higgins, a parliamentary staffer, in 2019 was raped by her colleague Bruce Lehrman inside Parliament House.

Ms Higgins had claimed Ms Reynolds had not offered her appropriate support when she reported she was sexually assaulted — claims vehemently denied by Ms Reynolds.

In the WA Supreme Court this week, Justice Paul Tottle ruled Ms Reynolds had been defamed by Ms Higgins in a series of social media posts made in 2022 and 2023.

Ms Reynolds, a former Coalition Minister, was awarded $315,000 in damages plus $26,000 in interest.

Justice Tottle was of the view Ms Reynolds had not harassed Ms Higgins, nor had the former minister mishandled her rape complaint, or behaved inappropriately.

But the fight is not over for Ms Reynolds.

In 2022, the Federal Government made a $2.4 million payout to Ms Higgins.

Ms Reynolds is now suing the Commonwealth over its conduct, claiming the government breached its duty to act in her best interests while settling a compensation payment with Ms Higgins.

Ms Reynolds is claiming the Albanese Government’s payout had the effect of publicly affirming Ms Higgins’ false allegations against her.

Ms Brown has also lodged a Fair Work case with the Commonwealth.

Ms Reynolds on Saturday said the Albanese Government should not be “spending hundreds of thousands of dollars” defending itself against her and Mr Brown’s court actions.

“There has been no quick settlement for Fiona Brown,” Ms Reynolds said.

“She has spent two years.

“There was a settlement of $2.4m in less than a day (for Ms Higgins).

“The Commonwealth has now got at least two senior counsels and are making sure that it drives up my costs further.

“Prime Minister, it is time just to end this for everybody — and do the right thing.”