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Agrees on compensation after calling alleged rape victim ‘a lying cow’
Australian Minister of Defence, Linda Reynolds has apologised to a former staff, Brittany Higgins, for calling her “a lying cow” over the alleged rape case
The Liberal senator described the incident as regrettable because she ‘did not mean it in the sense it may have been understood publicly.
In ‘unreservedly’ apologising and acknowledging ‘the hurt and distress’ suffered by her ex-staffer, Reynolds also agreed to pay legal costs and make a donation to a sexual assault charity as part of a confidential settlement.
Currently on sick leave, the Defence Minister reportedly described Higgins as “a lying cow” in her office on February 15, 2021, the day Higgins went public with claims of having been raped by another staffer in the Minister’s office early 2019.
Publicly, Reynolds, who decided to extend the sick leave amid ongoing controversy, says her only concern remained Higgins’ wellbeing.
A statement on social media on Friday, quoted Reynolds as saying she has publicly apologised to Higgins about the comment on March 5, 2021.
Explaining that she “did not mean it in the sense it may have been understood”, Reynolds further said; “Given that the comment was made public, which I never intended, I also want to retract it and unreservedly apologise to Brittany Higgins and acknowledge the hurt and distress it caused to her.”
She said the comment was made in response to claims that Higgins did not feel supported after coming forward with her allegation and not the fact of having been raped.
Meanwhile, Higgins, in a statement released by her lawyers, Company Giles, said she accepted the apology and wanted any extra money received as part of the settlement to go to a sexual assault organisation that specialized in supporting victims.
“I am pleased that the minister has now withdrawn her comments and I accept her apology to me,” Higgins said.
The statement further said; “This has been an immensely challenging period to me and I wish to reiterate that the only reason I have chosen to come forward is to help others.
“Finally, any monies I have received from the Minister, as part of this settlement of my claim against her over and above my legal costs, will be paid in full to an organisation that provides counselling and support for survivors of sexual assault and abuse in the Canberra area. These funds will assist them in this important work.”
Reynolds’ comment was made in her open-plan office and was overheard by staff, including those on secondment from the Defence Department, some of whom raised concerns about the remark.
In his reaction last week, Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said Reynolds ‘regretted’ the comment made in a ‘private’ setting while under pressure during a stressful week.
He said the Minister was only human, adding; “She apologised to the staff about making what were inappropriate comments, long before it became public.”
“I would just simply say to people, you know, it’s been a very traumatic several weeks for many people; people directly involved by these events, who are our primary concern. But, equally, there have been others who have been drawn into this. They’re human beings. They say things that sometimes they deeply regret.
“I would simply ask you, given the comment was made in a private place, that you offer the same generosity to how you’d perceive something you might have said, and perhaps apply the same standard to Linda Reynolds, who at the time was under significant stress. She deeply regrets it.”
Admitting the comment was ‘offensive’ and should never have been made, Morrison said; “I don’t condone [it],” he said.
Reynolds remains on sick leave and will miss the coming parliamentary sitting and Senate estimates hearings.
