Six years on from the Parliament House sexual assault allegations that spurred a public reckoning, the legal fallout continues. This time, a court has found former Western Australian Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds was defamed on social media by former staffer Brittany Higgins.
Pending any appeal, the judgement of Justice Paul Tottle in the WA Supreme Court puts an end to a bitter and lengthy saga of accusations and counter accusations between the two women.
Higgins has been ordered to pay a total of $315,000 in damages, plus interest, to Reynolds. As legal costs have not yet been awarded, this is the tip of the financial iceberg.