Brittany Higgins, one of Australia's most prominent public figures, made a striking appearance at a weekend costume party, looking almost completely unrecognisable. The event, a friend's 'Australian Icon' themed birthday celebration, saw the former political staffer transform her look with a specific and clever tribute.
A Dramatic Transformation for a Themed Night Out
Higgins embraced the party's theme by dressing as renowned journalist and political commentator Annabel Crabb. Her outfit was a direct nod to Crabb's signature style during ABC election coverage. She sported a sleek black wig, bold red lipstick, a sharp black pantsuit, a crisp white long-sleeved shirt, and a distinctive leather tie.
Sharing a gallery of photos on social media, Higgins captioned the post: 'When your friend has an Australian icon themed birthday party it's important to turn it out.' She added, 'Finally, an opportunity to wear Annabel Crabb's iconic 2025 ABC election coverage leather tie.' Despite the dramatic change, her trademark smile remained familiar.
A Fun Night Amidst Serious Financial and Legal Struggles
The lighthearted evening came after an intensely challenging period for Higgins. In December, a federal judge declared her bankrupt following a bitter legal battle with her former boss, ex-Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds.
The bankruptcy declaration came after Federal Court Justice Michael Feutrill ordered Higgins' estate be placed in bankruptcy, a ruling backdated to October. Reynolds had initiated the legal action after successfully suing Higgins for defamation.
In August, Western Australia's Supreme Court ruled that several social media posts made by Higgins had damaged Reynolds' reputation. The court awarded Reynolds $315,000 in damages plus $26,109 in interest. Higgins was also ordered to pay 80% of her former boss's legal costs, estimated to be around $1.5 million.
The Ongoing Fallout from the Legal Battle
Reynolds is now pursuing Higgins for the total damages and legal costs arising from the defamation suit, with the bill believed to be well over $1 million. In a statement, Reynolds said she did not view the bankruptcy outcome as a victory.
Reynolds' lawyer, Rachel Ross, explained that Higgins' estate would be handed to a trustee. This trustee will take control of her financial affairs and 'deal with the creditors in due course.' Ross noted it would be up to the trustee to determine if Higgins retains any of the $2.4 million compensation payout she received from the Commonwealth in 2022.
Higgins' husband, David Sharaz, has also been served with a bankruptcy notice by Reynolds and is expected to declare bankruptcy himself. The defamation case centred on social media posts that Reynolds argued had severely harmed her reputation.
The original allegations made by Higgins, which sparked national controversy, involve her claim that she was raped by a former colleague, Bruce Lehrmann, in Senator Reynolds' parliamentary office in 2019. Lehrmann has consistently maintained his innocence. No criminal finding has been made against him, as his 2022 trial was aborted due to juror misconduct.
