The Labor government stands accused of seeking to “politically profit” from Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations.
Ms Higgins reached a compensation agreement with the Commonwealth in December 2022 after she launched legal action against her employers in the previous coalition government.
Ms Higgins alleged she was raped by Bruce Lehrmann in 2019 inside the office of then-coalition minister Linda Reynolds, who they both worked for.
Mr Lehrmann has always denied Ms Higgins’ allegation.
This week text messages between Ms Higgins and her partner David Sharaz emerged suggesting the pair contemplated strategising her story with Labor minister Katy Gallagher, when she was in opposition, after the rape allegation was made public.
It’s further alleged by the opposition Senator Gallagher misled parliament in 2021 when she rebuffed claims she was tipped off about the rape allegation before it was made public in media reports.
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley told reporters on Friday senior government members needed to clear the air on what they knew and when.
“The release of text messages and audio recordings has brought into question the conduct of some senior Labor ministers, and the prime minister himself, relating to whether they chose to weaponise a rape allegation for political purposes,” Ms Ley said.
“The government’s credibility is in tatters and so every single claim needs to be validated.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the opposition attack as “bizarre”.
“You had allegations by a Liberal staffer that another Liberal staffer had a sexual assault in a Liberal minister’s office, and somehow, somehow Katy Gallagher has some responsibility for what was going on here,” he told Seven’s Sunrise program.
“This is bizarre.”
Senator Reynolds – who was criticised over her handling of Ms Higgins’ situation – has threatened to refer her compensation payment to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which comes into force on July 1, with the support of her leader Peter Dutton.
But Independent MP Zali Steggall on Friday said the attack “said a lot for (Mr) Dutton’s moral compass”.
Prosecutors ultimately dropped the charge against Mr Lehrmann because of fears about the impact of a second rape trial on Ms Higgins’ mental health after his initial trial was abandoned because of juror misconduct.
An ACT inquiry report into the handling of the rape trial is due to be handed down in July.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
– AAP
