Brittany Higgins snaps outside court after being asked about her alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann – as she fires back with a brilliant question of her own

Brittany Higgins has taken a brutal swipe at a TV reporter after her final day of testimony in federal court.

Ms Higgins' cross-examination continued for a third day on Tuesday in Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson following an interview with Ms Higgins broadcast on The Project on February 15, 2021, where she claimed she was raped by her ex-wife. co-worker.

At the end of the day, Ms Higgins was confronted by camera crews and journalists outside the court.

A Channel Seven reporter asked her if she would testify if there was another criminal trial on the issue.

“Aren't you paying his rent?” she replied bluntly.

Mr Lehrmann admitted last week that the Seven Network paid his rent under cross-examination by Lisa Wilkinson's lawyer.

Wilkinson's barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, asked Mr Lehrmann about what he received in return for his interview with Seven's Spotlight program earlier this year.

The channel previously said it “made no payment to Bruce Lehrmann for the interview,” but “helped with housing as part of the filming of the report.”

“Was it part of that agreement that you were paid by Channel Seven for twelve months' accommodation?” asked Mrs. Chrysanthou.

Mr Lehrmann replied: 'That's all…that's what I get.'

Ms Chrysanthou continues: 'That happened from June 2023 and paid until June 2024?'

Mr. Lehrmann responded, “Um, well, yeah. For filming in those places.'

He explained that part of the first Spotlight interview, which aired on Channel Seven in June, was partly filmed at that property.

Ms Chrysanthou then asked how much that was worth, but Mr Lehrmann said he did not know because “the network arranged the housing”.

Court documents revealed on Tuesday that the luxury ocean-view home on Sydney's northern beaches was rented out for $4,000 per fortnight – which works out to $104,000 a year.

Ms Higgins revealed her total damages at the Federal Court on Tuesday, under cross-examination by Mr Lehrmann's lawyer, Steven Whybrow SC.

She revealed that she received $1.9 million after attorneys' fees and taxes were eliminated. The gross payment was approximately $2.3 million.

Ms Higgins said she knew there was a possibility that Bruce Lehrmann would be found not guilty by a jury at his criminal trial, but said she would testify again at trial – 'now that I'm not jumping off buildings'.

Mr Whybrow said she was Marie Claire 'woman of the year' and had become the face of a women's rights movement.

Mrs Higgins said that was correct.

She was then asked about a speech she made outside the ACT Supreme Court in October last year after the jury in the criminal trial of Mr Lehrmann was discharged due to juror misconduct.

At the time, a second trial was planned for February this year.

The ACT Chief Justice had warned the media and individuals not to publish anything about the upcoming trial to ensure Mr Lehrmann received a fair trial.

During the speech, Ms. Higgins referred to herself as a proven victim and not an alleged victim. The speech was broadcast live on television at the time, raising fears that the jury could be biased against Mr Lehrmann at the next trial.

Mr Whybrow asked Ms Higgins on Tuesday whether she knew she was not allowed to comment on the trial outside court.

“You knew as an experienced media consultant not to come out and comment on the case in court,” he said.

“No way, no,” she replied.

“Is this your proof that you didn't know you weren't allowed to come out and give that speech?” he asked.

Ms Higgins said: 'I was not aware of it in any normal sense.'

'I had been in hospital for a week. I tried to commit suicide the weekend before, so I didn't process what happened. At that moment I can't even talk to my head.'

The trial in February was eventually halted due to fears for Ms Higgins' mental health.

Ms Higgins also told the court on Tuesday that she had told Senator Michaelia Cash and her chief of staff Daniel Try about her rape allegations.

Senator Cash and Mr Try both told the ACT Supreme Court last year that Ms Higgins had not disclosed her alleged assault to them.

Ms Higgins was asked why Senator Cash would deny knowing about her rape allegations, to which she said she was 'lying'.

Higgins told the court she was due to go on a date with a security guard at Parliament House on the weekend she was allegedly raped, but canceled it.

She also said she often “archives” contacts and messages from people she doesn't speak to. By the time she handed over her phone to police in May 2021, she had archived several contacts.

Ms Higgins had a Bumble date on the night of the alleged attack. She said he left the bar that night because she was “very rude” to him and her colleagues were “mean” to him.

The court heard she could not remember the name of the Bumble date, but Bruce Lehrmann's lawyer informed her that she referred to him as 'Nick' in her draft memoir.

Ms Higgins did not think to tell Lisa Wilkinson or Samantha Maiden that Mr Lehrmann tried to kiss her because that was a “semi-regular” occurrence between parliamentary staffers.

She broke down and snapped at Mr Lehrmann's lawyer when he suggested she was not drunk when she entered Parliament House with Mr Lehrmann on March 23, 2019.

The former employee was also asked about the Carla Zampatti jacket she wore at home the morning after the alleged assault.

Ms Higgins has long maintained the jacket was in a charity box in Senator Reynolds' office, while Senator Reynolds previously said there was no charity box in her office.

Mr Lehrmann has always denied sexually assaulting Higgins and has told the court that no sexual contact took place between the pair at any time.