Liberal senator Michaelia Cash has erupted after details of Brittany Higgin’s $2.4million compensation settlement with the Commonwealth government were made public, saying she was never asked for her version of events.
The role of Ms Cash and her then chief of staff Daniel Try in the saga have come into question after the deed of settlement was released on Thursday.
The deed includes claims Ms Cash breached her duty of care to Ms Higgins while the young staffer worked in her office by ignoring her claim she had been sexually assaulted, despite knowing about the allegation for some time.
Senator Cash and Mr Try have denied knowing about Ms Higgins’ allegation until shortly before it became public.
The deed reveals Ms Higgins’ legal team had considered pursuing legal action for sexual harassment and victimisation while employed by Senator Cash’s office.
On Friday Senator Cash told Canberra radio that she was not permitted to attend the mediation between the Albanese government and Ms Higgins if she wanted to maintain taxpayer-funded legal advice from the Commonwealth.
She complained that the deed only contained Ms Higgins’ version of events.
‘Let me be very, very clear. It is now up to the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to explain why his government paid out $2.4 million while relying only on one side of the story,’ Ms Cash said.
‘I was directed by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus not to participate in the mediation.
‘Not only was I or any of my staff not allowed to participate in the mediation, we were never asked for our version of events.
‘And my understanding is that the settlement was made after one day of mediation.
‘That is highly unusual when you are stepping on the basis of one person’s versions of the day. The Commonwealth did not admit liability.
‘It’s a $2.4 million payout. And I was directed by the Attorney-General of Australia not to participate in the mediation. There are serious questions for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to explain to the Australian people and why his government denied me and Linda [Reynolds] the right to defend ourselves.’
The document Justice Michael Lee ruled could be released on Thursday revealed that taxpayers forked out $2.445 million as part of Ms Higgins’ compensation settlement.
Earlier this week, Ms Higgins said in testimony she had personally received $1.9 million as part of a total $2.3million payout.
The settlement was dated December 13, 2022, 10 days after the former ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold dropped the charge against Mr Lehrmann.
The deed reveals Ms Higgins’ ‘hurt, distress and humiliation’ was valued at $400,000, past and future domestic assistance cost $100,000, $220,000 for medical expenses, legal fees were a further $245,000, and $1,480,000 was paid for lost wages.
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