Brittany Higgins and Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds are currently embroiled in a defamation trial in the Western Australian Supreme Court.

Higgins has publicly alleged that she was raped by her former colleague Bruce Lehrmann in Senator Reynolds' office in 2021, which has sparked a series of legal proceedings.

Lehrmann has consistently denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty; his initial trial was aborted due to juror misconduct.

Attempts at mediation between Higgins and Reynolds have failed, leading to the current trial, which is expected to last five weeks.

Higgins plans to defend her social media posts as substantially true and relevant to public interest, asserting that they reflect her opinion on the matter.

Reynolds initiated her lawsuit after Higgins made an Instagram post urging her to stop criticizing her, claiming she faced unwarranted criticism since the allegations became public.

Reynolds claims that Higgins' posts have damaged her reputation and caused emotional distress, while also alleging that they imply she mishandled Higgins' rape allegation.

Reynolds has stated that the stress from media coverage and Senate questioning related to the case aggravated a previously undiagnosed cardiac condition, resulting in her hospitalization in March 2021.

Higgins settled a personal injury claim against the government for an undisclosed amount in December 2022, with reports suggesting the sum could be as high as $3 million.

Higgins has also accused Reynolds of sharing confidential information with the media, including details about her compensation payout for the alleged rape.

The trial is expected to feature testimony from high-profile witnesses, including former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and other Liberal senators.