Brittany Higgins faces calls for investigation into $2.4m payment

Andrew Bolt has called for an investigation into Brittany Higgins’ $2.4million compensation payment from the federal government after she got a new job despite being ‘diagnosed as medically unfit for any form of employment’. 

The former Liberal staffer made a compensation claim for damages in March 2022 after alleging she was raped in parliament by her former colleague, Bruce Lehrmann.

He has always denied the claims but was found to have raped Ms Higgins on the balance of probabilities by Justice Michael Lee in April last year – a decision Lehrmann is currently appealing.

In Ms Higgins’ draft statement of claim, first reported by The Australian newspaper,  she had been ‘diagnosed as medically unfit for any form of employment, and has been given a very poor prognosis for future employment’.

The claim suggested she was therefore due over $2.5 million in economic loss for 40 years’ of missed earnings.

These claims were untested in court given Ms Higgins was awarded the $2.4 million by payout after one day of mediation talks.

Now, Sky News host Andrew Bolt has called for a ‘hearing’ into the decision. 

‘I feel taxpayers were taken for a ride by both Higgins and by the government. Shouldn’t this payout be investigated?’ he asked in a column for Newscorp.

Brittany Higgins (pictured) was awarded $2.4 million from the federal government after she claimed she would never be able to work again – but now has a job four years later

‘Indeed, it’s now nearly two years since Linda Reynolds (former Defence Minister and Ms Higgins’ former boss) rightly referred it to Labor’s new National Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation.

‘It’s still deciding what to do, but Reynolds isn’t giving up.’

A decision in Senator Reynolds’ defamation action against Ms Higgins and her husband David Sharaz is expected later this month. 

The couple were forced to sell their French chateau they bought in 2023 to pay for their legal bills. 

Despite once claiming not to be able to work again, Ms Higgins last week revealed she is returning to the workforce, joining the same company where her husband is employed.

The 30-year-old is now the director of public affairs at the public relations agency Third Hemisphere, the Australian Financial Review first reported. 

Her appointment came soon after her husband David Sharaz announced in March he had taken on the role of director at the agency.

The pair are working from home as they juggle their roles with looking after their son Freddie who was born on March 2. 

Brittany Higgins has revealed she is returning to the workforce and joining the same company her husband is employed at

Ms Higgins shared the news of her appointment on Instagram with the caption: ‘Your girl is finally back in the workforce!’

It is the first full-time job for Ms Higgins since she was a ministerial media adviser and was thrust into the limelight when she made rape claims against Lehrmann.

Following the trials, Ms Higgins became an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and has interned at the United Nations and has done work for Queensland’s Human Rights Commission.

Ms Higgins explained her move to Third Hemisphere came after fostering a connection with the firm’s founder and CEO Hannah Moreno. 

Ms Moreno was also a rape and domestic violence survivor who campaigns for gender equality and fights against sexual harassment. 

‘There was this general feeling of “how long do I have to be the story for?” At what point do I get to put it to rest… and have my own identity outside this narrative of Brittany Higgins,’ Ms Higgins said.

‘I also have a brand reputation and I don’t want to align myself in a corporate sense with someone that could be doing something untoward. 

‘I had to join a team that I fundamentally believe in and which believes in the same things that I do.’ 

Ms Higgins said the role would be her first step in following her role models,  including Governor-General Samantha Mostyn, Indigenous social activist and business executive Tanya Hosch and business executive Christine Holgate. 

In her new position, Ms Higgins will work with clients on reputation management and strategic advocacy. 

She will also handle stakeholder engagement, media relations and public affairs initiatives which create public discussion. 

Ms Higgins shared the news of her appointment to Instagram on Wednesday with the caption: ‘Your girl is finally back in the workforce!’

In August 2021, Mr Lehrmann was identified as the Liberal Party staffer accused of raping Ms Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019.

Ms Higgins explained her decision to join Third Hemisphere was cemented after fostering a connection with the firm’s founder and CEO Hannah Moreno

Her appointment comes just months after her husband David Sharaz announced in March he had taken on the role of director at the independent PR agency

Ms Higgins shared her alleged sexual assault ordeal with Channel 10 journalist Lisa Wilkinson in an interview aired on The Project.

Lehrmann has always denied the allegations.

Lehrmann faced the ACT Supreme Court in late 2022 but the case was dropped after a juror brought outside research into the deliberation room.

Another criminal trial did not happen, with prosecutors citing concern for Ms Higgins’ mental health.

In 2023, Lehrmann launched legal proceedings against Wilkinson and Channel 10, claiming he’d been defamed by The Project episode.

The ruling in that lawsuit left Lehrmann’s reputation in ruins with Justice Michael Lee finding that, on the balance of probabilities, he raped Ms Higgins.

He has appealed the ruling with the case to go before the Federal Court of Australia in August.

After quitting her role as Liberal Party media adviser, Ms Higgins worked on short-term contracts at the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

She also signed a book deal with Penguin Random House in 2021 for a tell-all memoir about her time in Parliament and the moment Lehrmann allegedly raped her. 

The final 90,000-word autobiography was meant to hit shelves in 2022, but publishers placed it on indefinite hold due to legal issues – namely, because the trial against Mr Lehrmann fell over and he was never convicted. 

It emerged this week that Mr Lehrmann is working unpaid as a live-in nanny to the children of a close friend as he awaits further trials.