New leaked text messages between Brittany Higgins and her fiancé David Sharaz appear to suggest that Anthony Albanese and other Labor heavyweights were in ‘direct contact’ with the pair as part of a plot to publicize her alleged assault in Parliament.
The Prime Minister, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher have all vehemently denied working with Ms Higgins while in opposition to ‘arm’ the allegations and harm Scott Morrison’s coalition government.
Former Liberal Party staffer Ms. Higgins alleges that Mr. Lehrmann sexually assaulted her in the office of Senator Linda Reynolds of the Liberal Party in the early hours of March 23, 2019, when they were colleagues. Mr. Lehrmann strongly denies the allegation.
Texts between Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz reveal that the pair conspired to enlist the help of key political figures and ‘favored’ reporters to push the line that her allegations had been ‘covered up’ by the government. The Australian reported.
On 16 April 2021, two months after Ms Higgins’s allegations were made public, Mr Sharaz texted Ms Higgins saying: ‘So Albo gave me his number – he just came in to do the breakfast show – saying that if you meet Scomo at let him know and he will fly to Canberra to be there if you want to meet him too.’
Mrs Higgins replied, ‘Certainly. I have no problem meeting Albo.”
New leaked text messages between Brittany Higgins and her fiancé David Sharaz (pictured together) appear to suggest that Anthony Albanese and other Labor heavyweights were in ‘direct contact’ with the pair as part of a plot to publicize her alleged sexual assault in Parliament House. to make
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has vehemently denied colluding with Ms Higgins while in opposition to ‘weaponize’ the allegations and harm Scott Morrison’s coalition government
Just six days later, Mr. Sharaz wrote, “Friday 9am with Albo locked up at CPO. Details to follow… “Tanya too.”
When asked if Ms Higgins had approached him to disclose the allegations, Mr Albanese simply said ‘no’ on Tuesday. Ms. Plibersek has also rejected the claims.
It is clear that Ms Higgins was furious with the then Prime Minister, Mr Morrison, after hearing whispers that his office had ‘background’ against her.
“He’s about to get screwed. Wait a second. We got him,” she wrote to Mr. Sharaz on March 26, 2021.
Mr Sharaz also made critical remarks about Mr Morrison.
“I still hate the c…” he wrote.
The trove of texts sheds light on their plans to “feed” Senator Gallagher information so she could fire off questions about the administration’s handling of the case and the alleged cover-up during a hearing on the estimates.
The development comes after Mr Sharaz was found to have dropped Senator Gallagher in an audio clip revealed by Daily Mail Australia.
Senator Reynolds (pictured with Scott Morrison in 2019) said she plans to report the settlement to the new federal anti-corruption commission, saying the speed of the process raises concerns about “fairness.”
Just two weeks before the February 2021 sexual assault allegation aired on the project, Mr Sharaz asked presenter Lisa Wilkinson if she knew of any ‘friendly MPs’ who could put questions to the then Liberal government during question time.
“Oh, sure Albo,” Mrs. Wilkinson replied, adding, “Tanya Plibersek, sure.”
Mr Sharaz told Ms Wilkinson and network producer Angus Llewelly: ‘I have a friend in Labor, Katy Gallagher on the Labor side, who will look into it and take it forward.
“So sit for a week, the story gets out, they have to answer questions during question time, it’s a mess for them.”
Ms Gallagher has vehemently denied having any knowledge of the allegation against Mr Lehrmann before it was made public or that she was asking questions on behalf of the couple.
The Labor heavyweight has also denied playing any part in giving the go-ahead to the estimated $3 million payout to Ms Higgins, which was signed by the government in December last year.
Senator Reynolds said on Wednesday she plans to file the settlement with the new federal anti-corruption commission, saying the speed of the process raises concerns about “fairness.”
Four days before Ms Higgins’ allegations became public, Mr Sharaz wrote how Senator Gallagher was “really invested” in the saga.
“Katy Gallagher messaged me. She is angry and wants to help. She has the context. They say they knew something was wrong because they fired Bruce and not you. They avoided a scandal,” he wrote to Mrs Higgins.
Four days before Ms Higgins’ allegations became public, Mr Sharaz wrote about how Senator Gallagher (pictured) was ‘really invested’ in the saga
‘I gave her [The Project] interview for context. I hope that’s ok? She does nothing with it. But I’m also happy to go out and let her talk to you if you want. Actually, I wanted her to understand all the context because it’s so complicated.’
Mrs. Higgins replied, “That’s fine. It will all become public pretty soon haha.’
The Senator Gallagher complaint continued on March 18, 2021, with the couple growing increasingly concerned about the prime minister’s background.
“You might as well give everything you’ve got to Katy,” Ms Higgins told Mr Sharaz on March 18.
“The sooner we can nip it in the bud, the better. Especially if we can call them by name,” Ms. Higgins wrote, hoping the senator could raise the issue in the Senate.
Mr. Sharaz replied: I texted Katy and SHY (Green Senator Sarah Hanson Young).
The couple also spoke of calling journalists and media figures to their cause after reaching out to Mr Morrison’s chief of staff, John Kunkel, whom they accused of background charges against them.
“Should we ask Katy Gallagher for advice on kunkel? She is politically quite ferocious haha,” Mr Sharaz wrote to Ms Higgins on 5 May 2021.
He then suggests giving the media a “drop” of information before Mrs. Higgins says, “He’ll just deny confirming anything.” These meetings are more in their interest than ours. I’ll tell Tanya and ask her advice.’
Texts between Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz (pictured together) reveal the pair conspired to enlist the help of key political figures and ‘favored’ reporters to push the line that her allegations had been ‘covered up’ by the government
Mr Sharaz said he texted a number of key political figures, including Green Senator Sarah Hanson Young (pictured)
Mr. Sharaz replied, “Plibersek? That is a good idea.’
Mr Lehrmann pleaded not guilty to the rape of Ms Higgins at his criminal trial last October.
However, the case was dropped after a juror brought unauthorized material into the jury room.
A second trial was set to go ahead in February, but Shane Drumgold, ACT’s director of public prosecutors, dropped the case because of the “significant and unacceptable” risk to Ms Higgins’ mental health.
The handling of the case by the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Public Prosecutions is now being reviewed by an independent inquiry.