WA Supreme Court Awards $315K Defamation Damages to Brittany Higgins Against Linda Reynolds

The Western Australian Supreme Court ruled in favor of former defence minister Linda Reynolds in her defamation case against Brittany Higgins, awarding Reynolds $315,000 in damages plus interest. The case centered on social media posts by Higgins that accused Reynolds of pressuring her not to proceed with a sexual assault complaint and mishandling the allegation of rape by fellow staffer Bruce Lehrmann in 2019. The trial featured testimony from over 20 witnesses and revealed intense political and personal fallout, including allegations of a political cover-up and bullying within Parliament, with Reynolds linking the stress to the death of Senator Kimberley Kitching. Reynolds and her lawyer argued that Higgins and her husband fabricated a narrative to harm Reynolds' reputation, while Higgins' legal team maintained her intent was to advocate for workplace reforms and support sexual assault victims. Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accusations as politically motivated attacks aimed at undermining his government. The judgment is seen as pivotal for Reynolds in restoring her reputation and for Higgins in defending her right to speak out about institutional responses to sexual assault.