Explosive new claims have emerged in Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds’ defamation case against Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz, with the couple accused of using rape claims as a “weapon to inflict immediate political damage” on the former Coalition government.
An updated statement of claim from the Senator, obtained by The Australian, alleges Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz drip fed false information to Senators Katy Gallagher and Penny Wong as part of an effort to destroy the former defence minister’s career.
Senator Reynolds also alleges Mr Sharaz organised meetings with a number of Labor members to discuss Ms Higgins’ rape claim, including now-Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and now-Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
In addition, The Australian reports Mr Sharaz set up meetings with two former prime ministers, Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd, to further an alleged “plan” to bring down the then Morrison government.
The explosive allegations are tied to social media posts made by the couple which Senator Reynolds says “maliciously” targeted her by falsely alleging she had “harassed” Ms Higgins, as well as mishandling the former staffer’s claim she was raped by Bruce Lehrmann.
“They were published in furtherance of a plan by the defendant and Mr Sharaz to use the defendant’s allegations of a rape and the political cover-up… as a weapon to inflict immediate political damage upon the plaintiff and the then government,” the Senator’s statement of claim reads.
Senator Reynolds further alleges the “aggressive questions” she faced from Senators Gallagher and Wong over her handling of Ms Higgins’ claims in 2021 formed part of that effort.
The Senator accused Mr Sharaz of providing Senator Gallagher with a dossier detailing the events surrounding the rape claim, an advance copy of Ms Higgins’ interview with The Project – where she outlined her allegations against Mr Lehrmann – and with facilitating “the provision of questions and answers between Ms Higgins and Senator Gallagher.”
Days later, Senator Gallagher joined Senator Wong in grilling the former defence minister over Ms Higgins’ allegations there had been a cover-up of the rape claim, leading Senator Reynolds to allege the former staffer had knowingly passed on false information.
Senator Gallagher came under intense scrutiny last year over claims she misled Parliament by denying advance knowledge of the rape allegations.
While the substance of the allegations put forward by Senator Reynolds have not changed, The Australian reports her case against Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz has been updated to include a claim of tortious conspiracy.
It is understood Ms Higgins is defending the claims.
The case is set to begin trial on August 2 after multiple rounds of mediation failed to produce an outcome.
In a separate ruling for the defamation case between Mr Lehrmann, Network Ten and former Project host Lisa Wilkinson in April, Justice Michael Lee found there had been no cover-up of Ms Higgins’ rape claim.
Senator Reynolds welcomed that finding, arguing it was time for the former staffer and Mr Sharaz to admit they had “got it wrong.”