Linda Reynolds’ parents lament daughter’s treatment as ‘monster’ and criticise Brittany Higgins’ interview
Senator Linda Reynolds’ parents say their daughter was branded a monster during the political firestorm that followed Brittany Higgins’ accusations about a political cover-up of her alleged rape, a defamation trial has been told.
The former defence minister is suing her former staffer Higgins over a series of social media posts containing alleged mistruths she believes damaged her reputation.
Janice and Laith Reynolds told the Perth court they were “devastated” by Higgins’ interview on Network Ten’s The Project when she said the senator mishandled the response to her alleged rape by Bruce Lehrmann in Reynolds’ office in 2019.
Lehrmann has always denied the allegation and his criminal trial was derailed by juror misconduct. The charge against him was dropped after a second trial was abandoned due to fears about Higgins’ health.
As part of Lehrmann’s failed defamation trial against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson, a federal court in April found that, on the balance of probabilities, he raped Higgins.
“How could anyone accuse [Linda] of such actions?” Janice Reynolds said in a witness statement to the supreme court of Western Australia on Wednesday.
“Especially galling because Lisa Wilkinson had not asked Linda for any comment, much less wanting to know her side of the story.
“It was unprofessional, to say the least … Orchestrated for maximum effect.”
According to exhibits tendered in the Lehrmann defamation trial in the federal court last year, Wilkinson’s producer on The Project, Angus Llewellyn, contacted Reynolds on the Friday before the program went to air on Monday night. The Morrison government provided a written response.
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The senator’s parents said their daughter was “badly affected by going from a person who was universally loved and respected to becoming a pariah”.
“One of the things that upset me most was the unfairness of the attacks,” Laith Reynolds said.
“She was accused of being some kind of monster who deserted a poor young woman who had been raped.”
Janice Reynolds also wrote about the senator’s heart problems that led to her being rushed to a Canberra hospital in the days following The Project episode in 2021 amid intense political scrutiny over Higgins’ claims.
“Laith flew over to see her,” she said. “He told me how upset he was seeing his daughter so seriously ill and not certain she would survive.”
The “brutal attacks” also “damaged” Laith and Janice Reynolds.
“This caused great problems and we lost friends and acquaintances during this period,” Laith Reynolds said.
He recalled meeting Higgins at the former Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt’s home in the months after she was allegedly raped.
“It was a house-warming,” he said. “She was very nice, appeared to be ebullient, joyful and told me she was delighted to be working with Linda.
“I found her to be a delightful young woman.”
Janice Reynolds had a similar recollection after meeting Higgins at a Liberal party function at a hotel in Perth’s eastern suburbs.
“She knew I was Linda’s mother … She said words to the effect her job with Linda was her dream job,” she said.
“She was very excited, very upbeat, very happy and obviously thought highly of Linda.”
Higgins’ defence statement of claim says she felt “isolated, traumatised, depressed, unsupported and confused” during her time in Perth for the 2019 federal election campaign.
“The defendant did not see the (senator) often and the defendant was not offered any additional support,” it said.
The trial continues on Thursday with evidence from Senator Reynolds’ brother Andrew and Dean Carlson, who replaced Fiona Brown as her chief of staff.
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html