Brittany Higgins’ former boss settles case against Commonwealth after alleging the Morrison government failed to protect her
Fiona Brown, the former chief of staff who employed Brittany Higgins in the office of ex-Defence Industry Minister Linda Reynolds, has settled a legal claim against the Commonwealth over allegations that the Morrison government failed to protect her following the 2019 rape allegation made by Higgins against a colleague in Parliament House. The settlement resolves a dispute in which Brown argued she had been unfairly blamed and inadequately supported by the government in the fallout from the scandal, which triggered a national reckoning over workplace culture in Australian politics.
The case centred on claims that Brown, rather than being protected as an employer dealing with a serious workplace incident, faced reputational damage and was left exposed by the Commonwealth's handling of the matter. Terms of the settlement have not been publicly disclosed, and the resolution brings to a close one of the remaining legal threads stemming from the Higgins affair, which has already resulted in other settlements, an inquiry and significant political fallout for the former Coalition government.
In short
- Fiona Brown, Brittany Higgins' former boss, settles Commonwealth claim.
- She alleged the Morrison government failed to protect her.
- Case stems from the 2019 Parliament House rape allegation scandal.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Fiona Brown was an employer attempting to manage an unprecedented workplace crisis, yet found herself unfairly blamed and abandoned by the institution she served. The government had a duty of care to support her, and its failure to distinguish between investigating serious allegations and scapegoating supervisory staff was a breach of that duty. Brown deserved protection and institutional support for doing her job properly during an impossible situation.
The case against
The Commonwealth had to prioritise investigating serious rape allegations thoroughly and supporting the complainant, which necessarily required scrutinising institutional and management responses. Protecting supervisors from examination would have compromised the investigation's integrity and signalled to victims that institutional preservation mattered more than accountability. The government could not shield managers from reasonable scrutiny whilst championing accountability for serious misconduct.
Explained simply
Brittany Higgins worked as a junior member of staff in Parliament House when she alleged in 2019 that a colleague had raped her. The allegation prompted significant national discussion about workplace safety and conduct within Australian politics.
Fiona Brown was Higgins's employer, serving as chief of staff to Defence Industry Minister Linda Reynolds. Brown sought legal redress against the Commonwealth, arguing that the Morrison government failed to protect her and that she was unfairly blamed in the aftermath of the allegation.
The case highlights concerns about how governments and employers respond to serious workplace incidents and the broader impact on those involved. Brown's legal action is one of several disputes to emerge from the Higgins allegations, which have had lasting consequences for Australian politics and workplace standards.