Brittany Higgins has slammed a outstanding Sydney radio host over his declare her compensation payout was “substantially higher” than $3 million, declaring his headline was “just plain wrong”.
In 2021, Ms Higgins alleged she was raped by a former colleague whereas working in then-defence minister Linda Reynolds’ workplace in 2019.
That man was later recognized as fellow staffer Bruce Lehrmann, who was charged with rape.
He has vehemently denied the allegations and pleaded not responsible throughout a trial in October final 12 months.
That trial was aborted because of juror misconduct and a rescheduled trial was deserted by prosecutors over issues of Ms Higgins’ psychological well being. The cost was formally dropped by the DPP in December 2022.
In December the previous staffer reached a settlement with the Commonwealth after launching civil motion.
The astonishing rebuke from the previous political staffer to 2GB host Ben Fordham got here after the radio persona urged the compensation payout from Ms Higgins’ confidential settlement with the Federal Government may have been greater than anticipated.
Mr Fordham on Monday posted a tweet with the headline: “It is substantially higher than $3 Million’: How much was paid to Brittany Higgins?”
“This headline is just plain wrong,” she fired again in her personal tweet half-hour after the publish went up.
The article in query referred to the settlement of a private damage declare attorneys appearing for Ms Higgins had filed towards the Federal Government final 12 months.
Despite being settled confidentially, media retailers have reported Ms Higgins acquired $3M in compensation.
But within the tweet, she refuted this quantity,
“I started the legal process with the Coalition Govt in early 2022,” Ms Higgins wrote.
“The settlement was well below the reported figure the media has run with – let alone beyond it?
“I’m going to have to start taking legal action against media outlets.”
A short while later, Mr Fordham’s article was up to date to acknowledge Ms Higgins’ feedback concerning the settlement being beneath the reported determine.
The headline, which stays up, now reads: “‘Just plain wrong’: Brittany Higgins rejects speculation over payout.”
“Brittany Higgins is denying speculation over her payout,” the article states.
In response to the replace to Mr Fordham’s article, Ms Higgins’ associate David Sharaz wrote: “Not exactly an apology.”
The present stoush comes amid Ms Higgins’ complaints of private diary entries being referenced in an article in The Australian.
In a sequence of tweets she mentioned she had supplied this data to the police to assist them type the transient of proof.
“No journalist should have seen the photo of my diary,” she tweeted on Saturday in response to the report.
“Stop publishing the private contents of my phone.”
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Source: www.perthnow.com.au
