Linda Reynolds Initiates Bankruptcy Lawsuit Against Brittany Higgins

As of October 14, 2025, former Defense Minister and Western Australian Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds filed a bankruptcy lawsuit against former assistant Brittany Higgins to recover over AUD 1 million in damages and legal costs.

In August, the WA Supreme Court ruled that Higgins had defamed Reynolds in social media posts, ordering her to pay AUD 315,000 in damages plus AUD 26,109 in interest and cover 80% of Reynolds’ legal costs. The court also held Higgins’ husband, David Sharaz, jointly liable for the defamatory content.

Reynolds alleges that Higgins defamed her reputation by claiming she mishandled a 2019 sexual assault case involving a colleague and engaged in harassment, spreading misleading information on social media that painted Reynolds as politically covering up the incident. Higgins successfully defended some posts, with the court recognizing certain statements as honest opinion or conditionally privileged.

Higgins has appealed the ruling and stated she will continue to pursue legal avenues, while Reynolds has escalated the matter to federal court to ensure recovery of damages and costs.