Brittany Higgins has dropped her appeal against Linda Reynolds’ defamation victory, effectively greenlighting bankruptcy proceedings that could see Higgins & Sharaz pursued for over $1M in legal costs. The WA Supreme Court found no evidence Reynolds covered up Higgins’ 2019 rape—despite a separate civil finding that Lehrmann assaulted her on the balance of probabilities.
This outcome punishes a survivor for speaking out, while rewarding a powerful ex-minister who weaponised defamation law to silence criticism. Reynolds now demands a parliamentary inquiry into Labor “weaponising” the case—classic deflection from systemic failures in handling sexual assault in Parliament House.
Solidarity with survivors shouldn’t come with a million-dollar gag order.

#auspol #BrittanyHiggins #BelieveSurvivors #MeToo #HoldPowerAccountable

https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/brittany-higgins-drops-defamation-appeal-against-former-boss-paving-way-for-bankruptcy-20251022-p5n4gw.html