Brittany Higgins has vehemently denied she fabricated her allegation of being raped by Bruce Lehrmann in parliament so she could keep her job.
Giving evidence on Thursday in a Federal Court defamation trial, Ms Higgins became emotional and broke down in tears during her cross-examination by Lehrmann's barrister Steven Whybrow SC.
"That is a fabrication that you were sexually assaulted," Mr Whybrow said.
"I understand that is your assertion. It's insulting but I understand it," Ms Higgins replied.
The allegation was made up so Ms Higgins could keep her job after breaching the parliamentary code of conduct, Mr Whybrow suggested.
"You didn't have sex with anybody that night. You passed out drunk in the minister's suite," the barrister said.
"It's insulting and it's incorrect but you're entitled to your opinion," Ms Higgins shot back.
Lehrmann has sued Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for defamation over a February 2021 report on The Project where Ms Higgins was interviewed.
The rape allegedly occurred in the Parliament House office of Lehrmann and Ms Higgins' then boss, Liberal senator Linda Reynolds, in the early hours of March 23, 2019.
Lehrmann denies any sexual intercourse or intimacy occurred.
Mr Whybrow's lengthy questioning revolved around how Ms Higgins' evidence had changed over time between statements she gave to the police, in court, to journalists from Ten and News.com.au and in a first draft of a book she had sent to publisher Penguin Random House.
One example was that the location of a box of chocolates eaten after the alleged rape had changed between versions.
"I want to suggest to you that is an example of your evidence evolving as you find out new information," Mr Whybrow said.
"No, I don't accept that," Ms Higgins replied.
She admitted giving incorrect statements to Wilkinson and Ten producer Angus Llewellyn during a five-hour interview conducted in January 2021, before she was filmed for The Project broadcast.
She also admitted lying to police when she said she had seen a doctor after the alleged rape, telling the court she was "embarrassed" she had not undertaken a health check automatically afterwards.
Ms Higgins rejected suggestions she told police Lehrmann had earlier tried to kiss her to "bolster" her allegation against him, or that she had given false evidence to downplay a routine work email she sent to him two days after the alleged assault.
Ms Higgins was taken to her $325,000 book deal with Penguin Random House over her proposed written account of the events surrounding the alleged rape.
Already receiving $108,000 as an advance, Ms Higgins denied having a financial interest in the outcome of the defamation proceedings, given that she was yet to receive approximately $216,000.
"If I ever actually finish the book, I will donate all $200,000 whatever to charity. I don't care about the money," she told Justice Michael Lee.
Ms Higgins said a draft sent to Penguin in April 2021 was "crap" and contained inaccuracies about the alleged rape, saying her evidence to the court was the actual truth.
The defamation trial, which was watched by almost 15,000 people on a livestream, continues on Friday.
Lehrmann has already given evidence in which he admitted to a number of lies and false statements he gave to police, Parliament House security, his employer and supervisor, and the media.
He was charged in August 2021 over the alleged rape but his criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court was derailed by juror misconduct.
Prosecutors did not seek a second trial, citing concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health.
A landmark report into the ACT legal system and the Higgins case in August made damning findings against former director of public prosecutions Shane Drumgold, which he has sought to challenge.
Lehrmann is also before Queensland courts accused of raping another woman twice in Toowoomba in October 2021.
He has not yet entered a plea, but his lawyers have indicated he denies the charges.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
