Fiona Brown, the former chief-of-staff to ex-defence minister Linda Reynolds, has initiated legal proceedings against the federal government, alleging it failed in its duty to protect her following Brittany Higgins' explosive rape allegations.
The Background: Parliament House Scandal
Ms Brown was serving as chief-of-staff to Senator Reynolds in 2019 when Ms Higgins claimed she had been sexually assaulted by colleague Bruce Lehrmann in the minister's parliamentary office. The case ignited a national conversation about workplace safety in Australia's political heart.
In a significant April 2024 judgment, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee cleared Ms Brown of allegations she had sought to cover up the incident, instead praising her compassion and integrity in handling Ms Higgins' complaint. The justice found she had been unfairly 'vilified as an unfeeling apparatchik' despite her proper conduct.
Legal Battles and Coming Court Dates
Justice Lee's landmark ruling determined that while there was no evidence of the alleged cover-up, Ms Higgins had likely been raped by Mr Lehrmann, who has consistently denied the allegations. Mr Lehrmann's criminal trial was abandoned in 2022 with no findings against him.
Ms Brown returned to the Federal Court on Monday for her own fight against the Commonwealth. Justice Nye Perram has scheduled a four-week hearing beginning in March 2027, though he noted it could conclude sooner.
The Commonwealth must notify Ms Brown by December 19 if it intends to apply to have part or all of her case struck out. The matter will return to court in February for further directions.
Wider Implications and Parallel Proceedings
If the trial proceeds as scheduled, it will land nearly eight years after Ms Higgins first informed Ms Brown she had woken semi-naked in their boss's office. Justice Lee found the then-chief-of-staff was shocked when Ms Higgins later stated Mr Lehrmann had been on top of her.
The justice ruled that Mr Lehrmann had been so 'hell-bent' on having sex with Ms Higgins that he didn't care whether she consented. Mr Lehrmann is currently awaiting judgment in his appeal against his defamation loss to Network Ten.
In that separate proceeding, the court found to the civil standard that Ms Higgins was proven to be a victim of sexual assault. Justice Lee memorably quipped that Mr Lehrmann, 'having escaped the lions' den, made the mistake of going back for his hat.'
Senator Reynolds is also pursuing legal action against the Commonwealth over its handling of Ms Higgins' compensation claim, indicating the political and legal repercussions continue to unfold years after the initial allegations surfaced within Parliament House.
