Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has defended Labor Senator Katy Gallagher over claims she might have had information concerning the Brittany Higgins allegations earlier than they turned public.
Marles was talking on Today this morning after leaked texts had been obtained by News Corp that are purportedly between Higgins and her accomplice David Sharaz.
The textual content messages are claimed to point out Sharaz had mentioned Higgins’ rape allegation with Katy Gallagher – who’s now finance minister – earlier than it was made public.
Marles insisted Gallagher didn’t then mislead parliament months later when she denied anybody had any prior information, after Higgins and Sharaz went public with the rape allegation in February 2021.
“No, she didn’t. And she has made that really clear this week.
”Katy has made her place very clear earlier within the week, and he or she has made clear that she could be very snug with the statements that she’s made, and that is the top of the matter by way of Katy’s place,” Marles said.
“Katy is an individual of huge integrity.”
Higgins accused former fellow political staffer Bruce Lehrmann of rape in 2021, a charge he has always denied.
His trial was abandoned last October following a case of juror misconduct and no findings were made against him.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said yesterday a a Commonwealth Government compensation payment awarded to Brittany Higgins was made “to the letter of the legislation”.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has backed former defence minister Linda Reynolds over referring the compensation payment to the new National Anti-Corruption Commission, which will begin operations in July.
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Source: www.9news.com.au
