Talk:Brittany Higgins

In 2019 Higgins was working in Parliament House in Canberra for the Liberal Party of Australia. Higgins states that after a night of drinking she voluntarily accompanied Bruce Lehrmann, who she worked with, in a taxi. Higgins states that she thought that she was going home and was surprised when the taxi arrived at her and Bruce Lehrmann's workplace, Parliament House.

Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann then entered Parliament House. Higgins was reportedly signed in as a guest of Bruce Lehrmann as she did not have her staff pass with her.^[1]

Higgins claims that she spent time in an office with Bruce Lehrmann and that she subsequently went to sleep. She claims that she later awoke to Bruce Lehrmann raping her.

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/parliament-house-rocked-by-brittany-higgins-alleged-rape/news-story/fb02a5e95767ac306c51894fe2d63635

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-15/brittany-higgins-parliament-house-rape-allegations/13157168

After advising that she would make a formal complaint to police Higgins said:

"I would also ask that they handle it in a timely manner as to date, I have waited a long time for justice." ^[2]

Receiving justice is predicated on making a complaint to police.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/feb/20/scott-morrison-upset-after-reports-second-woman-assaulted-by-man-who-allegedly-raped-brittany-higgins

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/scott-morrison-says-second-former-liberal-staffer-s-sexual-assault-allegations-are-very-distressing

"But when contacted by news.com.au, the staffer, who still works in Mr Morrison’s office, insisted he was never told Ms Higgins had been raped and had simply been asked to help find her another job after the election." ^[3]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-24/brittany-higgins-makes-formal-police-complaint-alleged-rape/13189046

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-04/linda-reynolds-releases-statement-brittany-higgins/13213694

Cleaning

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/brittany-higgins-alleged-rape-parliament-office-steam-cleaned-after-alleged-attack/news-story/fa1797427cf198241d555eb67ec3a306

Comments by Peter Butler

Mr Peter Butler was Director Security Operations for the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) at the time of the alleged rape in 2019. When interviewed by Fairfax Media, Butler called it a tragic incident:

“In my previous role as the Director Security Operations for DPS at the time of this tragic incident, I provided assistance to police undertaking certain inquiries,” ^[4]

And then later in the same article stated that he could not comment further as it may compromise an ongoing investigation:

“As this is an ongoing matter I may be called upon to provide further assistance to the authorities so it would be inappropriate for me to comment further and potentially compromise any potential inquiries or investigation.” ^[5]

March 4 Justice

Brittany Higgins:

"I watched as people hid behind throwaway phrases like due process and
presumption of innocence while failing to acknowledge how the justice system
is notoriously stacked against victims of sexual crime."^[6]

She thinks these are throwaway phrases.