Former defence minister Linda Reynolds says she will continue to pursue the Commonwealth government in her lawsuit related to Brittany Higgins.
Reynolds is currently suing the Commonwealth, claiming they breached a duty of care to her over its handling of Higgins’ $2.4 million payout.
Speaking to Sarah Ferguson on the ABC’s 7.30 program, Reynolds said: “My life was completely destroyed, my reputation, my career and my health. No-one can undo that.”
“I didn’t expect it would take five years and it would still be going.”
Reynolds is also continuing to pursue Higgins over the damages, worth over $300,000, she is owed for her successful defamation case over a series of social media posts. In this case, Higgins was also ordered to pay most of Reynolds’ legal costs, estimated to be over $1 million.
Reynolds told 7.30 she had not received any of the money she is owed. In October, the former senator launched bankruptcy proceedings against Higgins.
Asked why she was still pursuing the Commonwealth, Reynolds said: “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.”
Speaking about the Albanese government’s handling of the issue, Reynolds said Labor’s behaviour had been “despicable, it has been cruel, it has been relentless.” She said the Commonwealth had denied her the opportunity to defend herself when it took on the case regarding Higgins’ settlement.
“They have shown no sign that they accept the finding of two superior judges in Australia’s justice system,” she said.
“They refused to admit they were wrong.”
Reynolds went on to say that seeking justice through the courts was not cheap and she need more than an apology from the Commonwealth.
“Justice is not cheap. Because I was forced to take action to defend my reputation … we can’t undo all of the damage that’s been done over five years. But it has been hellishly expensive for me to seek justice through the civil courts,” she told 7.30.
“I have no regrets in doing it, because it has flushed out a lot of the truth. And certainly the truth about the allegations that were fabricated. But it has cost me a great deal.”
In 20204, the federal court found on balance of probabilities that Bruce Lehrmann raped Higgins in Parliament House in 2019. Lehrman recently lost an appeal of this decision that was brought about through a defamation action against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson.