Former political staffer Brittany Higgins and partner David Sharaz have attended a Perth court for mediation with Senator Linda Reynolds, who is suing the couple for defamation.
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Accompanied by her partner David Sharaz, Ms Higgins dressed in blue for her first appearance in Australia since the couple moved to France in late 2023.
The couple is being sued for defamation by the former defence minister over social media posts Senator Reynolds said had damaged her reputation.
The claims arise from tweets and a Facebook comment made by Mr Sharaz in 2022.
In one instance Senator Reynolds said she was defamed by Mr Sharaz's reply to a comment on her Facebook page asking how she was still in politics after she "destroyed" Ms Higgins.
"You're a monster who deserves to be in jail," the comment read.
Mr Sharaz responded saying: "Thanks for reminding her. I hope she hears this every day until she dies".
Senator Reynolds also claimed Mr Sharaz implied she was "a hypocrite in her advocacy for women's interests and empowerment" and pressured Ms Higgins not to proceed with a complaint to police.
Ms Higgins is also accused of posting defamatory posts on her Instagram and Twitter accounts on two occasions.
The senator is also claiming Ms Higgins breached a contract after they entered into a deed of settlement and release in March 2023, which included a "non-disparagement" clause.
The former Liberal staffer alleged she was raped by colleague Bruce Lehrmann inside Senator Reynolds' Parliament House office in 2019.
Mr Lehrmann denied the allegation and his trial was aborted due to juror misconduct, with no findings made against him.
He has since sued Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for defamation with a trial running in late 2023 and the judge's decision yet to be handed down.
Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz started a new chapter in December 2023 with a move to provincial France.
The couple and family members dressed in all-white in a nod to the suffragette movement as they departed the country from Brisbane Airport.
With Australian Associated Press
