Former Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds is set to formally request the National Anti-Corruption Commission re-examine its decision not to launch an inquiry into Brittany Higgins’ controversial $2.4 million payout after new evidence emerged about Labor’s handling of the matter.
Linda Reynolds is set to formally request the National Anti-Corruption Commission re-examine the $2.4 million Commonwealth payout provided to Brittany Higgins after new evidence emerged about Labor’s handling of the matter.
The NACC concluded a preliminary investigation into the controversial settlement in June, finding it had not involved corrupt conduct.
However National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Paul Brereton signalled on Thursday that the matter could be reopened if there was a formal request from Ms Reynolds – prompting the former senator to say she’ll do just that.
“I will take up today’s invitation from Commissioner Brereton to request that my referral be reopened,” Ms Reynolds said on Thursday evening.
Linda Reynolds is set to formally request the National Anti-Corruption Commission re-examine the $2.4 million Commonwealth payout provided to Brittany Higgins. Picture: NewsWire/Philip Gostelow
The former WA Senator said that new evidence had been brought to light since the NACC had announced its decision not to launch a formal investigation into the matter.
In August, Ms Reynolds won a major defamation battle against Ms Higgins, in which WA Supreme Court Judge Paul Tottle found that the allegation there had been an attempt to cover up Ms Higgins’ rape had “no foundation in fact”, and the allegation there had been inadequate support was “based on an incomplete and misleading account of the facts”.
And last month, previously secret documents revealed how, after forcibly taking over Ms Reynolds’ defence, Commonwealth lawyers allegedly ignored her instructions and failed to provide her with crucial information about the settlement process.
“These matters may have impacted on the NACCs decision, and I intend to invite the Commissioner to reconsider my referral,” Senator Reynolds said.
Speaking to Sky News Australia on Thursday, Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson said she was proud of both Ms Reynolds and her former chief of staff Fiona Brown for “continuing the fight for justice”, claiming “Labor weaponised the rape (of Brittany Higgins)”.
“That was obviously a terrible thing to happen here, but they ran a terrible campaign against Linda and Fiona, and also Michaela Cash and the Prime Minister – making false claims that they had covered up a rape here in Parliament House,” she said.
“That’s why, when the last court decision was handed down… I said very clearly that I felt the Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher, was not fit to do that job. She should stand down from that position.
“And both Minister Wong and Minister Gallagher, who led the charge in making false claims against Linda Reynolds, should apologise. We’ve now seen the Prime Minister ducking and weaving.
“This government has got to come to grips with the fact that they ran a shocking campaign, a terrible series of lies against Linda (Reynolds), against Fiona (Brown) and other members of the then government, weaponising a terrible thing that happened in Parliament House.”
Senator Henderson said she had raised the matter with Commissioner Brereton during Senate estimates on Thursday, prompting him to point out Ms Linda Reynolds was able to ask for the referral to be reopened.
“She can ask for the referral to be reopened. And then it is a matter for the NAC as to whether they will make that decision (to overturn the decision made in June),” Senator Henderson said, before adding that the Commissioner had made it clear he was not aware of any new information that would justify overturning the NACC’s previous decision.
Source: https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/linda-reynolds-to-request-the-national-anticorruption-commission-reexamine-brittany-higgins-24-million-payout-after-new-evidence-emerged/news-story/49f22a4cc6c9a9a90f72fcd2d85174ba
