17.02.2021
2 min read

Brittany Higgins releases new statement accusing PM of ‘victim-blaming rhetoric’ as fallout deepens

The former Liberal staffer also says she has only learned key details about the night she was allegedly raped since going public.

7NEWS Update: February 17

Alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins has accused the prime minister of ‘victim-blaming’ as more details of her ordeal emerge.

The then-24-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at Parliament House in 2019 while she was working for Defence Minister Linda Reynolds.

She went public with her story earlier this week, as was first reported by news.com.au.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his office was only made aware of the allegations last week and he personally was only notified on Monday.

Doubt has since been cast over claims the allegations were not well known by staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, with former PM Malcolm Turnbull telling the ABC: “If it wasn’t, there was clearly an absolutely baffling breakdown in communications.”

Higgins described feeling as if she was a “problem” following the ordeal. Credit: News Corp

Higgins later on Wednesday issued a statement saying she was only just now being made aware of details around what happened to her the night of the alleged incident.

She says the alleged sexual assault took place after a night out drinking with colleagues.

“I have only been made aware of key elements of my own sexual assault as a result of coming forward publicly with my story,” she said.

“I didn’t know that security guards let me into Minister Reynolds’ suite. I didn’t know that security guards came into the office multiple times seeing me in a state of undress.

Brittany Higgins. Credit: News Corp

“I didn’t know they were undertaking an internal review into how the matter was handled at the time. I didn’t know that they debated calling an ambulance at the time of the incident.

“The continued victim-blaming rhetoric by the Prime Minister is personally very distressing to me and countless other survivors.”

She also said in her statement that she felt her employment within the government at the time would be jeopardised if she pursued action.

Morrison, meanwhile, was pressed on the matter during Question Time on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he wasn't aware of an alleged rape until Monday. Credit: AAP

Higgins’ primary point of contact at the time of the alleged rape now works in the prime minister’s office.

Opposition Spokesperson for Women, Tanya Plibersek, questioned why it then took two years for the accusations to be made known to his office.

Morrison said staffers were “bound” by their former offices.

“It is not common practice, in my understanding, that when staff move between offices that they disclose matters of other offices.”