Linda Reynolds has settled with journalist Aaron Patrick and publisher HarperCollins over a book that the former minister alleged made defamatory statements about her response to Brittany Higgins’ allegations of rape.
Reynolds filed a writ against Patrick and the publisher in Western Australia’s supreme court in January, seeking aggravated damages over allegations in the book Ego: Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberal Party’s Civil War.
Patrick, a senior correspondent with the Australian Financial Review, focused his book largely on Malcolm Turnbull, Liberal party infighting and scandal, and Turnbull’s campaign against Scott Morrison.
It included a chapter on the fallout from Higgins’ complaint of rape, including several passages that made allegations about Reynolds’ response.
The allegations were vigorously contested by Reynolds, who alleged in her writ that they were defamatory and caused her loss and damage.
Patrick confirmed to the Guardian Australia that the parties have settled. He said the terms of the settlement were confidential and could not be discussed.
The settlement avoids potentially costly defamation proceedings in the WA courts and allows Patrick’s book to continue to sell.
Patrick said he remained proud of the book.
“The settlement allows for the continued sale of Ego,” he said. “The book hasn’t been banned.”
It is unclear how much of the allegedly defamatory content has been removed. HarperCollins and Reynolds were approached for comment.
After publication, Reynolds strongly criticised Patrick for speaking publicly about the settlement. She said it amounted to a breach of the settlement conditions.
“The statements made by Mr Aaron Patrick as quoted in your article amount to a breach of the settlement deed before the ink is even dry,” she said.
News of the settlement comes just two days out from a major decision in a separate case brought by Bruce Lehrmann against Network Ten and News Corp.
On Friday, the federal court is expected to rule on whether Lehrmann should be allowed an extension to the usual 12-month time limit on defamation claims.
If the extension is granted, Lehrmann will be free to sue the two outlets and journalists Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Maiden over their initial reporting of Higgins’ allegations in February 2021.
Lehrmann is also suing the ABC for publishing a full National Press Club address by Higgins. The Guardian revealed earlier this month that that address has now been removed.
Lehrmann has denied raping Higgins in Reynolds’ office in 2019. He fought the allegation at trial. The trial was aborted due to juror misconduct and a second trial was not pursued due to fears for Higgins’ mental health.
Reynolds also sent a separate defamation complaint to David Sharaz, Higgins’ partner, over tweets she alleges were defamatory. That writ, also issued in WA’s supreme court, claims Sharaz made “inaccurate and professionally damaging” criticisms of her online.
In 2021 Reynolds apologised to Higgins for calling her “a lying cow” in comments made privately but subsequently publicly reported, and agreed to pay legal costs and make a donation to a sexual assault charity as part of a confidential settlement.
