Reynolds Vows to Fight On, Doesn’t Regret Legal Action Against Higgins
Former Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds remains resolute in her legal battles against the Commonwealth and Brittany Higgins, stating she has “no regrets” and will pursue justice “until the bitter end.” The ongoing saga stems from allegations surrounding the handling of Higgins’s $2.4 million payout and subsequent defamation claims.
Reynolds is currently suing the Commonwealth and its legal representatives, alleging a breach of duty of care related to the management of her defense in the matter of Higgins’s compensation. Simultaneously, she is pursuing Higgins for approximately $350,000 in damages, stemming from a successful defamation suit over social media posts made in 2022. Reynolds revealed to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s 7.30 program that she has yet to receive any of the awarded funds.
The case resurfaced last week during Senate Estimates, where Liberal Senator Anne Ruston questioned the Commonwealth’s decision to contest the compensation claims filed by Reynolds and her former chief of staff, Fiona Brown. Both claim they were falsely accused by Higgins of attempting to cover up her 2019 rape allegation. Reynolds emphasized to 7.30 that her fight to clear her name is worth any cost, even potential bankruptcy, and sharply criticized the Labor Party for what she described as the “weaponization” of the issue against her.
“I either had to fall over and just let these lies carry me away or I stood up and fought for the truth and for justice for me and for everybody else who’s been so damaged by these lies and by the weaponisation of these lies,” Reynolds stated. “My life was completely destroyed, my reputation, my career and my health. No-one can undo that.” She further characterized Labor’s behavior as “despicable, cruel, and relentless,” asserting they have disregarded the findings of multiple judges.
Reynolds expressed a desire for an apology from the Labor Party, but conceded it was unlikely. She dismissed a previous apology from Senator Katy Gallagher – “I’m sorry that you have been hurt by all this” – as insufficient, labeling it “an apology you make when you’re not making an apology.”
The financial toll of the legal battles has been significant, with Reynolds and her partner having taken out a second mortgage on their home, leaving them millions of dollars in debt. Despite this, she maintains she does not regret pursuing legal action against Higgins, a survivor of sexual assault.
In April 2024, Justice Michael Lee found on the balance of probabilities that Bruce Lehrmann had raped Higgins at Parliament House in 2019. Reynolds had initiated legal proceedings against Higgins and her partner, David Sharaz, over a series of social media posts from 2022. Reynolds argued the situation could have been resolved with a simple apology from Higgins.
“The judge who awarded the damages after — in a 360-page document — found that the allegations against me, the lies that were at the heart of the biggest and longest political scandal of its type in Australia’s history — it was all based on lies, and that I was defamed,” Reynolds explained. “Ms Higgins could have settled with an apology and saying ‘I believed it at the time, but I now know it wasn’t true and I’m sorry, I won’t say it again.’ It would have cost both parties a few thousand dollars — it could have been over — but she didn’t.”
Reynolds also voiced feelings of abandonment by former Liberal colleagues, claiming she was used as “collateral damage” in Labor’s efforts to unseat former Prime Minister Scott Morrison. She specifically criticized Peter Dutton, though declined to name other colleagues. However, she praised Morrison’s support during a particularly difficult period, stating he “saved my life” by providing support and connecting her with medical professionals.
Despite the ongoing legal battles and personal cost, Reynolds remains determined to clear her name and hold those she believes responsible accountable. The case continues to unfold, raising complex questions about political accountability, defamation law, and the treatment of individuals caught in the crosshairs of high-profile scandals.
