Detailed notes kept by Brittany Higgins' former boss in the days after her alleged rape at Parliament House have been revealed in a court case.
Fiona Brown was the chief of staff to then Defense Industry Minister Linda Reynolds when Ms Higgins was found naked by parliamentary security staff and passed out on a sofa in her ministerial office in the early hours of March 23, 2019.
CCTV had captured Ms Higgins and former colleague Bruce Lehrmann, the man she claims sexually assaulted her, going through a security checkpoint together before entering the unsupervised office.
Mr Lerhmann has consistently denied the accusation of rape against Ms Higgins and is suing Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson, who broke the story on The Project, for defamation in the Federal Court.
Above is a photo of Brittany Higgins, former Secretary of State Julie Bishop and David Panton, which was tendered during the trial
Fiona Brown is photographed outside court after completing her testimony on December 19
Ms Brown's notes about what happened in the aftermath of that night were quietly published by the court as evidence in the case three days before Christmas.
Her notes stated that Lauren Barons, a Treasury Department employee, was first notified that the couple had visited the office outside of business hours.
“At approximately 11:45 a.m. I received a call from Lauren Barons telling me she had something sensitive to discuss,” Ms. Brown's notes for the day of March 26, 2019 read.
“Lauren told me that two staffers came through a security checkpoint early Saturday morning, drunk. She told me their names were Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins.”
“Lauren said Bruce left the office around 11:00 p.m. A security guard went to check the office some time later to make sure it was safe and found Brittany naked and passed out.”
'She was offered an ambulance and medical attention, but she refused. She said Brittany left the building at approx. Saturday at 10am.'
“Lauren took me through the protocols and procedures I needed to follow and advised that DPS was preparing a report.”
The same day she was informed of the incident, Ms. Brown said she called Mr. Lehrmann for a noon meeting and asked him what he was doing in the office that evening.
“He said he didn't agree that he was drunk.
“I asked him who he came with and he said Brittany. I asked why he came to the office at the time, he said he had to drink his whisky.'
According to her notes, Mr Lerhmann said he had drunk two glasses of whiskey and Ms Brown repeatedly told him he had breached the ministerial code of conduct and security protocols by entering the office outside office hours.
When asked what he and Ms Higgins had been doing in the office, he replied that they were 'chatting' and when pressed further said he 'didn't want to get into that'.
Ms Brown then told him to leave the office 'immediately' before asking for 15 minutes to collect his 'books and such'.
When she went to check on him after about seven minutes, he was gone and she ignored her request to personally hand over his security pass, she claimed.
He texted her shortly afterwards to say he had left it with security staff.
Bruce Lehrmann arrives at the Federal Court earlier this month during his defamation trial
Ms Brown then arranged a meeting with Ms Higgins at around 1.30pm, during which she also told her that the ministerial code of conduct and safety protocols had been breached.
'I asked what time she arrived at the office, she said she didn't remember going into the office, she said she had been out and was drunk, she remembered going through security in the basement of the Min Wing had come.
'She remembered being woken up but not knowing what time, and being half naked. She remembered waking up on the couch around 8 a.m. Saturday morning.”
“I asked if she was okay and she said yes. I asked her if she remembered anything else. She shook her head to say no.
“She said I am responsible for what I drink and my actions.”
Ms Higgins then requested a few days off to visit her family on the Gold Coast.
She walked back to her desk. I went back out about 45 minutes later and noticed she was gone… I called her and she sounded upset, I asked where she was, she said while she was in the car, she had been crying, I offered to to come down and see her, she refused.'
'At approx. 5 p.m. I called Brittany where it went (voicemail), I texted her to say I was checking on her well-being and was glad she decided whether she wanted to take time off or work from home, to let me know to let know.
“She replied that she would rather go to work, that she enjoyed being busy, I said that was fine.”
The next day, Ms. Brown summoned Ms. Higgins to a meeting, the court document said.
Mrs Brown recalled: 'I said, although I didn't know exactly what was happening in the office, if anything had happened that she wasn't happy about or that she thought wasn't right or that had upset her, she had every right to file a complaint. or report it through the correct channels.'
'She said no, she didn't know what to do, I said she had our support if she wanted, she said she didn't want to cause any trouble, I said no trouble would be caused, she needed to know she was being supported and within its rights to file a report or complaint.'
The day after, the pair met again.
Mrs Brown told her: 'If you are unhappy with something you have had our continued support, I said for my part I wouldn't raise it with her again as I didn't want her to feel get every time we spoke. I would bring up the incident.
'She said she would take on the guidance, to which I replied well. I was happy to see her taking advantage of it.”
'Then she said, “I remember he was on top of me.” I was shocked. I didn't know what to say at first.'
Ms Brown said she continued to contact Ms Higgins in the following days, telling her she would receive support if she wanted to report the incident to police.
Ms Brown's notes show that on March 29 she and Minister Reynolds had an argument about whether to report the matter to the police.
'Linda called and instructed me to go to AFP and report the incident on her behalf, I refused. We discussed it, she persisted, I refused. I said that's not possible, it's morally and ethically wrong. It's up to the person/victim, debunking etc. Heated.'
Ms Brown then called Ms Higgins and asked her if she would file a report for her, but she declined, saying she wanted to speak to her father first who was visiting Canberra that weekend.
Defendant in the defamation action Lisa Wilkinson is pictured left outside the Federal Court with her lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC
Before the day of April 1, Ms Brown wrote: “The Minister and I met with Brittany to discuss the events of last week.
'The minister preceded the meeting by saying that we were here to check the prosperity of Brittany; I don't know exactly what happened, but something seems off: whatever “you choose to do, we will support”.
Ms Reynolds then suggested Ms Higgins undergo counselling, which she said she did and that she would speak to the AFP, the court document said.
'The minister referred to times in her life when she suppressed things that had happened to her and which resurfaced in the future; she said the AFP could investigate things calmly and offer Brittany options.”
'She said her concern was about the impact this event could have on her career prospects, the minister immediately said Brittany's well-being was our primary concern, said (Brittany) had her unconditional support, (it was) important to take control today, with the AFP and know what its options were. The minister said there was no impact on Brittany's career.”
In the following days, Ms Brown's notes stated that AFP officials confirmed to Minister Reynolds that Ms Higgins had made an allegation of sexual abuse and that Ms Brown had recommended that Mr Lehrmann's employment be terminated.
Ms Higgins would later go to Belconnen Police Station and make a report, but then choose not to proceed with that complaint.
It was not until February the following year that Ms Higgins decided to make her allegations public and subsequently file a police report.
Mr Lehrmann has always denied Ms Higgins' allegations. The alleged rape case went to trial but was dropped due to juror misconduct.
Judge Lee heard closing arguments in the civil defamation case just before Christmas after a 21-day hearing.
He has reserved his decision. It is expected that this will be awarded in early 2024.
Ms Higgins and her fiancé David Sharaz moved to Lunas, France, after she gave her evidence at the defamation hearing.