'Extensive preliminary investigation': Corruption watchdog makes bombshell decision about Brittany Higgins' $2.4 million payout
The National Anti-Corruption Commission has shared a major update about Brittany Higgins' compensation payout by the Albanese government.
Ms Higgins was paid about $2.4 million by the Commonwealth in compensation in 2022 after she was raped by Bruce Lehrmann in Parliament House in 2019.
The multi-million dollar payout by the government was in recognition of lost earnings after she was diagnosed as 'medically unfit' to work due to the impacts of the rape.
It is understood then-Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds, who employed Ms Higgins at the time of the assault, referred the payment to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
On Thursday, the NACC took the unusual step of addressing the 'scrutiny and speculation' surrounding the payout.
'The National Anti-Corruption Commission (the Commission) conducted an extensive preliminary investigation into the settlement and found no corruption issue,' the NACC said in a statement.
'During the preliminary investigation, the Commission issued multiple notices to produce to the relevant departments and legal representatives, and analysed thousands of documents tracking the claims and negotiation of the settlement.'
Ultimately, the NACC said there was no evidence of corruption or any intervention by either the Coalition or Albanese governments in the mediation process.
'There is no evidence that the settlement process, including the legal advice provided, who was present at the mediation, or the amount, was subject to any improper influence by any Commonwealth public official,' the NACC said.
'To the contrary, the evidence obtained reflected a process that was based on independent external legal advice, without any inappropriate intervention by any minister of either government.
'There is therefore no corruption issue.'
After receiving the payout, the ex-political staffer subsequently married longtime love David Sharaz in a lavish wedding on the Gold Coast last year and welcomed a son earlier this year.
The couple also purchased a chateau in France but have listed the property for sale at a steep discount after relocating to Melbourne.
It is understood that a significant portion of the multi-million dollar payout remains held in a trust managed by an entity called 'Power Blazers Pty Ltd'.
Details about the trust were revealed in court during Ms Higgins' ongoing defamation lawsuit brought by her former employer Linda Reynolds.
Ms Reynolds has alleged that Higgins is using the trust to shield her fortune from potential creditors that might pursue her.
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