A left‑wing activist group has appointed the husband of Brittany Higgins to a senior leadership role as it ramps up a new political fight against conservative organisations and right‑wing media powerbrokers.
GetUp has hired former journalist David Sharaz as it seeks to rebuild its influence and take on groups such as Advance, amid warnings that ‘far‑right’ forces pose a growing threat to Australian democracy.
Mr Sharaz is married to former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, whose allegation that she was raped by Bruce Lehrmann inside Parliament House in 2021 sparked a national political firestorm and fundamentally reshaped federal politics.
He has previously worked as media advisor in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and a media analysis company in Canberra.
In his new role, Mr Sharaz will oversee GetUp’s campaigns on media accountability, misinformation and political operations, drawing inspiration from overseas activist groups including Britain’s controversial Hacked Off media reform movement.
GetUp claims it mobilises more than one million supporters to influence elections, pressure governments and confront powerful interests across issues ranging from voting rights and climate change to mental health funding.
Ms Higgins publicly celebrated the appointment, posting on Instagram that she was ‘proud of you boo’.
The organisation is understood to be rebuilding after recent political setbacks, with insiders claiming it now has a growing supporter base and a war chest of around $1million.
David Sharaz and Brittany Higgins (pictured) attend the ‘Silenced’ Premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Utah
Brittany Higgins posted on Instagram she was proud of her husband’s new role
Interim co‑chief executive Paul Ferris said Mr Sharaz’s appointment reflected what he described as a rapidly changing political environment.
‘Rupert Murdoch and his billionaire media mates have used their outlets as weapons, pursuing vendettas and distorting politics in this country,’ he told The Guardian.
‘We can’t keep allowing that level of power to operate without scrutiny.’
Mr Ferris warned that far‑right groups were becoming increasingly sophisticated, well‑funded and adept at using both mainstream media and social platforms to influence public debate.
‘The democratic threat is real,’ he said, adding that GetUp was investing heavily in campaign infrastructure and staff as the political stakes continued to rise,’ he said.
Daily Mail contacted GetUp for comment.
Mr Sharaz told Guardian Australia the organisation plans to focus on combating far-right groups and pushing the Albanese government for progressive policy outcomes.
‘When people feel isolated, ignored, and disenfranchised, they are pushed toward the political fringes, as recent polling shows,’ he said.
Bruce Lehrmann (pictured)
‘The lesson is clear: people need to see their concerns taken seriously and reflected in our political discourse.’
Mr Sharaz has previously been branded Ms Higgins’ ‘puppet master’ and the mastermind behind the media blitz surrounding her allegations against Lehrmann.
Mr Sharaz was a key figure in the negotiations to bring to light Ms Higgins’ rape accusations against Lehrmann, who has strenuously denied all her allegations.
He lined up meetings with Lisa Wilkinson on The Project to tell her story and acted as a go-between with Labor figures including ‘old friend’ finance minister Katy Gallagher.
Last month, Lehrmann made a last-ditch effort to clear his name of findings he sexually assaulted Ms Higgins in Parliament House.
In April 2024, Justice Michael Lee dismissed the civil lawsuit, describing it as an ‘omnishambles’.
The judge’s findings that Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins on the balance of probabilities were upheld on appeal by the Full Federal Court in December.
The allegations were made public during an explosive interview on The Project in February 2021.
If Lehrmann loses his High Court bid, he could be forced into bankruptcy due to court orders he pay a $2million legal bill to Ten.
