Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped in 2019 by her then-colleague Bruce Lehrmann at Parliament House, a claim that has led to significant political upheaval in Australia.

Higgins' husband, David Sharaz, expressed concerns about being portrayed as the manipulative force behind her allegations, which emerged publicly in 2021.

In December 2022, Higgins settled a personal injury claim against the government for $2.445 million, a detail that surfaced during the ongoing defamation trial involving Senator Linda Reynolds.

Senator Reynolds has initiated a new lawsuit against Brittany Higgins and Power Blazers Pty Ltd, the trustee managing Higgins' multimillion-dollar compensation payout.

During the defamation trial, audio from an interview with journalist Samantha Maiden revealed Higgins felt perceived as 'toxic' by Reynolds, who appeared to resent her presence.

Higgins described her relationship with Reynolds as strained, stating that the senator avoided her and seemed unhappy about the alleged assault.

The defamation trial, which has lasted four weeks, centers on Reynolds suing Higgins over social media posts made in 2022 and 2023 that accused her of mishandling the rape allegations.

The trial is ongoing, with further evidence expected from journalist Samantha Maiden and former Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Leanne Close.

During cross-examination, Maiden recalled Reynolds questioning the truth of Higgins' allegations, asserting she was 'not in the room' during the incident.

Senator Anne Ruston testified about the emotional toll on Reynolds, stating she was 'brought to her knees' by media scrutiny following the allegations.

Higgins is defending against Reynolds' defamation claims, asserting that her social media posts accurately reflect her experiences and alleging that Reynolds is using media to intimidate her.

Reynolds' legal team has requested to question Higgins' doctor regarding conflicting psychiatric reports, which could impact the ongoing trial.