ScoMo takes the stand in Higgins’ defamation trial

Former prime minister Scott Morrison is expected to give evidence in the blockbuster defamation case between Senator Linda Reynolds and Brittany Higgins.

Senator Reynolds is suing Ms Higgins and her husband David Sharaz in the WA Supreme Court over posts the couple shared in 2022 and 2023 which were critical of Ms Reynolds’ handling of Ms Higgins’ allegation she was raped in Parliament House in 2019 by her then-colleague Bruce Lehrmann.

Mr Lehrmann was charged with rape and faced trial in 2022, but the trial was aborted due to juror misconduct.

The charge was dropped and Mr Lehrmann continues to maintain his innocence.

Mr Morrison was the prime minister at the time of Ms Higgins’ alleged rape at Parliament House and when her interview with The Project was broadcast two years later.

The former prime minister apologised in parliament to Ms Higgins and all who experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault or bullying while working in federal parliament after a review was conducted by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins in 2022.

In 2019, Senator Reynolds was promoted to the position of defence minister by Mr Morrison following the Liberal Party’s victory at the federal election.

She was later demoted from the position following Ms Higgins’ allegations.

The senator was caught out calling Ms Higgins a “lying cow”, which she has said was made in frustration about “false” allegations that were made during the interview about her mishandling the complaint.

The former prime minister publicly said the senator’s comments were offensive, inappropriate and wrong.

Mr Morrison told News Corp at the time the senator had told him her comments were about how she felt they had done everything they believed they could do to support Ms Higgins.

“Clearly, over a period of time there was a very different view about that,” he said.

“She knows those comments to have been inappropriate and wrong … And I share her view, obviously, about that.”

The senator suffered a breakdown in parliament not long after the allegations were aired after she faced intense questioning from Labor Senate colleagues during question time.

The trial continues.