Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds was worried she would lose her job as defence minister after she called Brittany Higgins a “lying cow” while watching her former staffer’s first television interview.
The former minister is suing Ms Higgins over social media posts containing alleged mistruths she believes have damaged her reputation.
Under questioning from Ms Higgins’ lawyer Rachael Young, the senator said she was “mortified” by her comment, which she made in front of staff members.
“I was abashed. I felt a bit ashamed that I’d obviously said something like that,” she told the Western Australian Supreme Court on Wednesday in response to Ms Young’s questions about the comment being leaked.
Senator Reynolds denied her stress was because she feared the comments were about to be reported by the media.
“I had been subject to complete vilification for being a cover-up of a female of a young woman’s rape and there were calls for my resignation in the media and in that two weeks, I had been completely and utterly turned into … the villain,” she said.
“It wasn’t just the media, it was the relentless hounding I got in the Senate … and by that stage, the social media trolling had well and truly started so I think I was understating it a little bit about being fearful – it was overwhelming.”
She said she was angry at The Project‘s journalist Lisa Wilkinson.
“When I saw her (Higgins) crying I felt very sorry for … I was also angry at Lisa Wilkinson, because how could she put her in that position?”
The senator recalled her reaction when she learned about Ms Wilkinson’s pre-interview with Ms Higgins, which was evidence in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case.
“I hadn’t believed that there was malice … but reading and then hearing them read out, it was so clear to me then that this was premeditated. It was personal against me,” she said.
Senator Reynolds said she had initially blamed the Labor Party for the attacks on her but she realised how well prepared Ms Higgins and her now husband David Sharaz’s plan was, as the alleged instigators.
“They had a package for the media. They had a package for the Me Too movement. They clearly had a package for disaffected Liberals … pitching it to them as well.”
Senator Reynolds said the attacks devastated her family and staff.
She was questioned about her reaction when she learned she was barred from attending the Commonwealth’s 2022 mediation sessions with Ms Higgins’ that led to her $2.4 million payout.
“I could see immediately what the attorney-general was trying to do, which is why I referred it to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. He was seeking to silence me.”
Lawyer Martin Bennett raised Ms Higgins’ continuing use of social media during the trial to allegedly target the senator.
“It just validated why I’m taking these proceedings because she will not stop and even during this trial, she will not stop,” she said.
Senator Reynolds recalled one of Ms Higgins’ posts, saying: “The French Resistance. You can run, but you can’t hide”.
Ms Higgins is due to leave her home in France to testify in court later in August.
In another post, Ms Higgins said “It’s time to stop”, the court heard.
“It was just part of another pile-on … I just felt like one of those punching clowns at the fairground,” Senator Reynolds said.
“You get punched and you keep bouncing back smiling and then you get punched down again.”
Another post said: “I won’t stay silent so you can stay comfortable”.
“I can assure you, taking these proceedings, putting my house on the line, everything I’ve worked for for 40 years, putting everything on the line to be able to be here to tell the truth that just took the cake: that I’m doing this to stay comfortable,” the senator said.
Ms Higgins’ defence relies on truth and that it was reasonable to comment on issues of public interest concerning government and political matters.
She alleged colleague Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Senator Reynolds’ office in 2019.
Lehrmann has always denied the allegation and his criminal trial was derailed by juror misconduct.
For support call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028.
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